The circular economy assumes that materials circulate in the economy for as long as possible and that waste is above all prevented, reused and recycled.
RSS
In 2018, 243 fires at dumps and landfills were recorded, in 2019 177 and in 2020 111. We explain where waste fires come from, what is released and how to reduce the risk.
Growing waste volumes, infrastructure gaps, illegal landfills and new streams (batteries, photovoltaics) are the main challenges. An overview of the tools: EPR, the deposit return system and the Batteries Regulation.
Waste can cease to be waste after recycling or other recovery, but only if it meets the four conditions of Article 14 and the specific conditions. We explain where to get them from and what this means for digestate and compost.
PP and HDPE caps can be shredded and processed into filament in an extruder, but the material is hard to print with. We discuss the educational value, technical limitations and the EU context.
Municipal wastewater, process wastewater and rainwater are potential sources of water. We discuss recovery technologies, examples from Singapore, Namibia and Israel, the "Moja Woda" programme and the role of digestate.
The act of 13 July 2023 introduces a deposit return system in Poland for plastic bottles, cans and returnable glass bottles: a deposit of up to PLN 2, collection levels from 77% in 2025 to 90% in 2029.
On 5 July 2023 the European Commission proposed binding food waste reduction targets for 2030 and extended producer responsibility in the textiles sector. The change will affect the food waste stream.
A waste code is chosen according to the source of generation, not according to what you will use it for. We show the rules of the 2020 catalogue and the codes of typical substrates and fermentation products.
Jardim Gramacho in Rio de Janeiro, composting in San Francisco and the Amager Bakke incinerator show that landfills and waste can be turned into energy and raw materials. We check the facts and the limitations.
The act of 14 April 2023 implements the directive on single-use plastic products: bans, charges for bags and packaging, producer fees and obligations in the BDO database.
In March 2023 the New Zealand government announced a waste strategy and collection standardisation: recycling in cities by 2027 and food waste collection by 2030, with a reduction in landfill methane.
Restaurants and canteens must collect kitchen waste separately and pass it to an authorised collector. We describe the codes, the contract, the BDO, UPPZ requirements and the route to a biogas plant.
Depackaging separates expired food from packaging before digestion. We explain waste codes, the permit, the BDO, UPPZ and the effect of contaminants on digestate quality.
On 30 November 2022 the European Commission proposed a regulation on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR): reduction targets, recycling requirements, deposit return systems and rules for compostable packaging.
The circular economy combines the waste hierarchy, recycling targets and closing the nutrient loop. We explain the EU and national frameworks and the place of the biogas plant between energy and fertilisers.
The regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment published on 16 November 2022 introduces conditions for combustion waste to lose waste status: ashes, slags and synthetic gypsum from the power sector. It will apply from 1 December 2022.
Shops over 250 m² where food accounts for at least half of turnover must hand food over to non-governmental organisations and pay the food waste fee. We explain the rules, deadlines and the fate of food that cannot be saved.
The concept of RIPOK has been replaced by "municipal installations", and the planning role is played by voivodeship waste management plans with an investment plan. We explain the rules and the place of biowaste.
A regulation changing the rules for applying municipal sewage sludge has been published in the Journal of Laws: required treatment processes, accredited testing and new deadlines. The main part will enter into force after 48 months.
From 1 January 2022 the implementing regulations for SB 1383 apply in California: a 75% reduction in landfilling of organic waste by 2025 and recovery of 20% of food.
The act of 17 November 2021 (Journal of Laws (Dz.U.) 2021, item 2151), published on 26 November, brings into national law the changes of the EU waste package: new definitions of biowaste, extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules, a ban on incinerating separately collected waste and prevention programmes.
Proposal COM(2021) 709 of 17 November 2021 amends the waste shipment regulation: it bans exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries, tightens controls and introduces digital procedures.
Five levels of the hierarchy: prevention, re-use, recycling, other recovery and disposal. We show how Articles 17 and 18 place anaerobic digestion and why this matters in decisions.
A 2020 SEMARNAT assessment, cited in a UGTO paper, indicates that 46.42% of the waste generated in Mexico is organic waste — a large stream for digestion and composting.
