SeiteBDE Bundesverband der DeutschenEntsorgungs-, Wasser- und Rohstoffwirtschaft e.V.

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-wasteGerman case

Claas OehlmannResource policy officer

Biomass Policies| Brussels| 14.05.2014

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The BDE

• Federation of German Waste, Water and Raw Materials Management Industry

• approximately 750 member enterprises

• largest association in the German recycling and waste management industry

• largest European association of its sector

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

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Agenda

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

1. Introduction: bio-waste in Europe

2. European legislation

3. German case: resource potential of bio-waste

4. Conclusion: setting the right framework in the EU

- Product status for compost and digestate

- Managing bio-waste as a resource

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1. Introduction: bio-waste in Europe

4Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

31 % organic waste

Source: Eurostat, Zerowaste, 2007

Average composition of household waste in EU 27 in 2007

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1. Introduction: bio-waste in Europe

• 118 to 138 mt of bio-waste generated every year

> about 88 mt are municipal waste

> expected to increase about 10%

• Still 40% landfilling of bio-waste in the EU

• waste treatment for source separated bio-waste only in some countries

• Potential financial benefits of 1,5 up to 7 billion Euro by 2020

> depending on the ambition of the set objectives

(Source: Commission‘s Communication COM(2010)235 “on future steps in bio-waste

management in the European Union”, 2010)

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

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1. Introduction: bio-waste in Europe

6Claas OehlmannSetting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

Source: Commission staff working document accompanying the Communication on future steps in bio-waste management in the EU, 2010

Baseline scenario – projected evolution of bio-waste treatment 2008-2020 (EU-27)

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2. European legislation

Waste hierarchy

Art. 4 Waste Framework Directive

(a)prevention;

(b) preparing for re-use;

(c) recycling;

(d) other recovery, e.g. energy recovery; and

(e) disposal.

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

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2. European legislation

European framework for bio-waste

• Art. 3 Waste Framework DirectiveBiodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises and comparable waste from food processing plants

• Art. 22 Waste Framework DirectiveMember States shall take measures (...) to encourage:

(a) the separate collection of bio-waste (...)

(b) the treatment of bio-waste (...)

(c) the use of environmentally safe materials produced from bio-waste.

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

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German case

9Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilize the potential of biowaste, the German Case

Source: Waste balance of the Lander/ Stat. Bundesamt, Witzenhausen-Institut 2014

Evolution of the food/kitchen waste and garden waste quantity in Germany from 1990 to 2012

Million T. / Year

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Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

3. German case

• Landfill ban for untreated municipal waste since 2005

• 9.1 mt separate collected bio-waste in 2012> 4.4 mt bio-waste collected in bins> 4.7 mt separate green waste collection

• 111 kg per person and year of bio-waste

• Biggest separate collected material flow from households

• Still about 4 to 5 mt of bio-waste in mixed municipal waste for households- thus bio-waste also the biggest unseparated fraction

• Art. 11 (1) German Recycling and Waste Act (KrWG) : ... biological waste (…) shall be collected separately by 1 January 2015.Source: Kern, Siepenkothen, Bioabfallerfassung 2.0 – Neue Chancen und Herausforderungen

Witzenhausen-Institut, 2014

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3. German case

11Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

Source: Witzenhausen-Institut, 2010

Public-sector waste management municipalities providing a bio-waste bin in Germany in 2010

Municipalities without bio-waste bin or ≤ 5kg /res*a

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3. German case

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Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

Average composition of municipal waste in Germany, 2014

Source: Witzenhausen-Institut, 2014

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3. German case

13Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

Source: Witzenhausen-Institut, 2014

Average composition of bio-waste in municipal waste in Germany, 2014

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3. German case

• "100 %" separate collection rate

> all fractions of the bio-waste stream

> only acceptable exception: home-composting

• resource bio-waste: three steps to make use of it

1. Establishing user-friendly separate collection systems

2. Implementing of separate collection systems by municipalities

3. Funding of German Government through German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) for combined composting and digestion plants

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

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4. Conclusion: Setting the right framework in the EU

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

Product status for compost and digestate

Approach 1: End-of waste criteria (EoW criteria)

• possibility of defining EoW criteria (Art. 6 WFD)

• technical proposals for EoW criteria for each stream

• January 2014: publication of criteria for compost and digestate (JRC IPTS‘s report )

• February 2014: COM stopped the EOW-approach for an unknown period of time

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Product status for compost and digestate

Approach 2: Product criteria within the fertiliser regulation

• DG ENTR aims at

> harmonising the EU market for fertilisers

> including organic fertilisers, soil improvers and growing media

> combining product requirements with a limited negative list of substances that may not be used to produce fertiliser with a product status

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

4. Conclusion: Setting the right framework in the EU

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4. Conclusion: Setting the right framework in the EU

Managing bio-waste as a resource at European level:

• pre-treatment obligation in the EU

> to ban the landfilling for untreated municipal waste

• complete separate bio-waste collection

> from private households and businesses 

> to direct the stream towards a high-quality treatment

• criteria for the product status of compost and digestate

> to ensure high quality standards

• EU-funding aligned to the five-step waste hierarchy

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

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Thank you for your attention !

Claas Oehlmann

Setting the right framework to mobilise the potential of bio-waste, the German case

oehlmann@bde-bruessel.eu