European Waste Hierarchy
Encyclopedia
The European waste hierarchy refers to the 5 steps included in the article 4 of the Waste Framework Directive
:
Prevention - preventing and reducing waste generation.
Reuse and preparation for reuse - giving the products a second life before they become waste.
Recycle - any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes composting and it does not include incineration.
Recovery - some waste incineration
based on a political non-scientific formula that upgrades the less inefficient incinerators.
Disposal - processes to dispose of waste be it landfill
ing, incineration
, pyrolisis, gasification and other finalist solutions.
According to the Waste Framework Directive
the European Waste Hierarchy is legally binding except in cases that may require specific waste streams to depart from the hierarchy. This should be justified on the basis of life-cycle thinking.
of 2008 was not part of the European legislation. The waste framework directive of 1975 had no reference to a waste hierarchy .
In the first legislative proposals of 2006 the European Commission
suggested a 3 step hierarchy composed of 1- Prevention and Reuse, 2- Recycling and Recovery (with incineration
) and 3- Disposal. This was heavily criticized because it was putting recycling at the same level of incineration which was coherent with the traditional pro-incineration position from the European Commission. The pressure from NGOs and member states managed to turn the initial non-binding 3 step hierarchy into a quasi-binding 5 step hierarchy.
Waste framework directive
The Waste Framework Directive is an European Union Directive of 17 June 2008 . The first Waste Framework Directive dates back to 1975 and was substantially amended in 1991.The aim of the WFD was to lay the basis to turn the EU into a recycling society....
:
Prevention - preventing and reducing waste generation.
Reuse and preparation for reuse - giving the products a second life before they become waste.
Recycle - any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes composting and it does not include incineration.
Recovery - some waste incineration
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
based on a political non-scientific formula that upgrades the less inefficient incinerators.
Disposal - processes to dispose of waste be it landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
ing, incineration
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
, pyrolisis, gasification and other finalist solutions.
According to the Waste Framework Directive
Waste framework directive
The Waste Framework Directive is an European Union Directive of 17 June 2008 . The first Waste Framework Directive dates back to 1975 and was substantially amended in 1991.The aim of the WFD was to lay the basis to turn the EU into a recycling society....
the European Waste Hierarchy is legally binding except in cases that may require specific waste streams to depart from the hierarchy. This should be justified on the basis of life-cycle thinking.
History
The waste hierarchy is a concept that has appeared in environmental literature and in some EU member-states environmental legislation but before the waste framework directiveWaste framework directive
The Waste Framework Directive is an European Union Directive of 17 June 2008 . The first Waste Framework Directive dates back to 1975 and was substantially amended in 1991.The aim of the WFD was to lay the basis to turn the EU into a recycling society....
of 2008 was not part of the European legislation. The waste framework directive of 1975 had no reference to a waste hierarchy .
In the first legislative proposals of 2006 the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
suggested a 3 step hierarchy composed of 1- Prevention and Reuse, 2- Recycling and Recovery (with incineration
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
) and 3- Disposal. This was heavily criticized because it was putting recycling at the same level of incineration which was coherent with the traditional pro-incineration position from the European Commission. The pressure from NGOs and member states managed to turn the initial non-binding 3 step hierarchy into a quasi-binding 5 step hierarchy.