Danish exports of environmental products and consulting services within the waste sector in 1999
3. Danish environmental waste management policy
Each year Denmark produces almost 13 million tonnes of waste, including waste from energy generation, sewage treatment plants as well as building and construction activities. Put differently, each Dane produces seven kilos of waste each day of the year.
Danish environmental waste management policy is based on waste prevention as well as waste management and waste disposal. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the authority responsible for waste management, while local authorities are responsible for the practical implementation of policies.
Local authorities are responsible for
collecting, treating and disposing of hazardous and household waste. They must also
provide the necessary facilities for treating and disposing of all waste, including
incineration plants and landfill sites.
Waste management takes places according to detailed planning. All local authorities are required to map their waste volumes, draw up waste plans, prevent waste production and ensure maximum recycling of waste.
As regional planning authorities, counties are responsible for assigning land for incineration plants and landfill sites.
Aim
The overall aim of our waste management policy is to reduce waste volumes. Prevention
is a top priority. Environmental management and cleaner technology allow us to reduce
waste production, for example by taking waste treatment into account in product design and
by using fewer products that have an adverse effect on the environment. This aspect of our
product-oriented environmental policy aims at limiting the consumption of resources and
reducing environmental impacts. However, our product policy is inadequate in some cases -
for example with respect to reducing industrial waste. The aim is also to recycle as much
as possible. About 64 per cent of all waste is currently recycled.
Future waste management policy challenges
Waste 21 suggests a shift of focus to improve Danish waste treatment procedures environmentally. So far, Denmark has emphasised quantity waste management, waste minimisation and recycling. The focus will now also be on improving the quality of waste treatment procedures.
It is considered vital to reduce the environmental impacts and optimise the use of resources, including the energy used in producing waste, the raw materials that make up the waste and the energy generated during incineration.
The quality of waste treatment procedures must be improved to allow us to minimise the dispersion of substances that have an adverse effect on the environment and to optimise the use of resources.
According to Waste 21, we must weigh technical, environmental and economic conditions when choosing waste treatment methods.
Waste Hierarchy
In the waste hierarchy, recycling is the optimal waste management method, followed by incineration (exploitation of energy) and depositing.
Recycling is the best solution, since it maximises the exploitation of waste resources.
Waste is incinerated if it cannot be recycled and if residues produced during incineration do not cause any environmental problems. Waste in Denmark is always incinerated for the purpose of exploiting energy and, increasingly, to allow combined production of heat and power.
Waste depositing is the least optimal solution because resources are not exploited. This solution may also contaminate soil and groundwater. Waste suitable for incineration may no longer be deposited.
The Danish Waste Management Model
In Denmark, EU and national regulations interact closely in the waste management area. EU regulations outline the general framework and principles, while national waste management legislation is adopted by the Folketing (the Danish parliament).
Unlike a number of countries, Denmark has chosen to handle household and industrial waste, including packaging and hazardous waste, in one waste system.
Sorting at source
The principle of sorting at source is one of the key elements of the Danish waste management model. Collection systems for some types of waste such as paper, cardboard and glass are based on sorting at source, and both people and companies use and support these systems.
Organisation
Unless the Danish Executive Order on Waste Management lays down specific requirements, local authorities are free to decide how to handle and dispose of waste. Some of the major local authorities have chosen to handle and treat waste themselves, while the vast majority of local authorities have formed joint waste management companies.
The main plant for hazardous waste disposal, Kommunekemi, as well as landfill sites and incineration plants are all owned or controlled by public authorities. Collection of household waste is handled by local authorities, but is often outsourced to private contractors. Typically, they also handle collection of industrial waste. Moreover, private contractors are actively engaged in handling and processing waste for recycling purposes. Stations has been established for hazardous waste handling. A few local authorities handle hazardous waste themselves.
A range of instruments
The Danish waste management model combines conventional administrative instruments (acts, orders and circulars) and a variety of economic instruments in the form of taxes, duties, fees, subsidy schemes and agreements.
Waste Sectors and Waste Fractions
Waste can be classified in several ways. One is to break down waste into waste-producing sectors. This gives the following breakdown of Danish waste production:
• Building and construction (24 per cent)
• Households (24 per cent)
• Trade, offices and institutions (8 per cent)
• Industry (21 per cent)
• Power stations, sewage treatment plants and incineration plants (23 per cent)
Waste from one specific sector is
often characteristically distinct from that of other sectors. So, handling procedures and
collection systems are typically adapted to each sector and its specific waste.
Another way is to break down waste into different types or fractions. Examples of such waste fractions are paper, cardboard, glass, packaging plastics, tires as well as electric and electronic products. The individual waste fractions have certain physical characteristics or qualities that make separate treatment favourable both economically and environmentally or in terms of resources. Several types of waste, which were previously incinerated or deposited, are now collected and treated individually.