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Economic Instruments High level seminar Brussels, 19th March 2013 Michel Sponar, European Commission, DG Environment
Economic Instruments
High level seminar Brussels, 19th March 2013
Michel Sponar, European Commission, DG Environment
Economic Instruments
Lessons learnt from most advanced Member States: without economic instruments nearly impossible to
meet most of EU targets •Waste disposal & treatment fees/bans (landfill & incineration)•Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) schemes•Producer responsibility schemes •Incentives for Municipalities•Use of Regional funds
Landfill cost vs Landfill rates
Landfill cost vs Landfill rates
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
AustriaLandfill tax rate (€)
MSW landfilled (% ofMSW generated)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
EstoniaLandfill tax rate (€)
MSW landfilled (% ofMSW generated)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
FranceLandfill tax rate (€)
MSW landfilled (% ofMSW generated)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
SwedenLandfill tax rate (€)
MSW landfilled (% ofMSW generated)
Incineration taxes vs Recycling
Disposal taxes/bans
Main barriers • Illegal landfilling • Opposition of municipalities• Affordability
Elements of answers • Eradication of illegal landfilling • Progressive/transparent approach • Bans, MBT and Incineration taxes to be
considered in a later stage • Revenues sent back to municipalities
PAYT schemes
Source: U. Gianolio, Erica 2011
PAYT schemes Main barriers
• Illegal landfilling/burning • Acceptability/Absence of incentives
(municipalities) Elements of answers
• Information campaigns + inspection/repression • Develop enough alternative (separate
collection/prevention) • Reduce, delete general tax on waste • Territorial consistency • Incentives for municipalities
Biowaste
(~37%)
~ 5/600 kg/inhabitant
Municipal waste and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes
Furniture (~3,5´%)
Packaging (~25%)
Textile (~2,5%)
Paper (~15%)
WEEE (~3%)
Other waste (~7%)
Potential: around 40 to 60% of waste generatedSource: Bio Intelligence, on-going study
Other waste (~7%)
Product stream Number of EPR schemes
in place in EU-27 and Croatia
WEEE 26Packaging 25
ELVs 25Batteries 27
Tyres 20Graphic paper 11
Oils 10Medical waste, old/unused
medicines10
Agricultural films 8Additional product streams covered by EPR schemes
Schemes identified in less than 5 MS
Fluorinated refrigerant fluids; pharmaceuticals; lubricants; textiles; infectious healthcare waste; furniture;
dispersed hazardous waste; plant protection product packaging and unused products; fertiliser and soil amendment packaging; seed and plant packaging; mobile homes; office equipment ink
cartridges; window panes; waste containing asbestos; disposable plastic kitchenware; photo-chemicals; plastic
foils; expanded polystyrene
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in the EU-27 and Croatia
Source: Bio Intelligence, on-going study
Producer Responsibility
0
200 000 000
400 000 000
600 000 000
800 000 000
1 000 000 000
1 200 000 000
1 400 000 000
1 600 000 000
19921993 19941995 19961997 1998 19992000 20012002 20032004 20052006 20072008 2009 20102011 20122013 20142015
Total amount collected - EPR schemes in France
Source: Ademe 2011
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Recent studies have shown that:
1. EPR schemes have allowed to fund required operations to meet high recycling/recovery targets;
2. Large differences between MS in terms of:• Waste streams covered;• Cost efficiency of the systems; • Control of the systems;• Role of municipalities/producers
Extended Producer Responsibility
Main barriers • Lack of transparency and public control• Lack of experience • Unclear relations with municipalities
Elements of answers • Clear laws defining responsibilities along the
whole chain (dialog)• Public control – ensure transparency• Expand to other waste streams • Consider alternatives (deposit schemes for
instance)
Conclusion - Next Steps
1. Additional study on Producer Responsibility – end 2013 Guidance document + OECD study
2. Ex-ante conditionality EU Funds (period 2014-2020)
3. Opportunity for new requirements - Waste Framework Directive review
4. Country Specific Recommendations
Thank you for your attention !
More information:
Resource Efficiency: http://ec.europa.eu/resource-efficient-europe/index_en.htm Study/Press Release on Economic Instruments: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/use.htm Country Specific Recommendations 2011: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/making-it-happen/country-specific-recommendations/index_en.htm
