Commercial and Industrial Waste and Selected Wasteflows

Foreword

During the last ten years consecutive governments have aimed at reducing the amount of waste, avoiding landfilling and encouraging recycling. They have concentrated on large homogenous waste flows and the treatment of hazardous waste.

Despite much effort, it has been seen that the amount of commercial and industrial waste is increasing and will increase faster than expected up to the year 2000, and the amount of residues from waste-incineration plants is also growing. Moreover, increasing environmental problems are connected with recent years' rising consumption of environmental contaminants which are accumulated and disseminated via waste.

In 1995, the Government presented the ‘Nature and Environment Policy Report’ (Natur- og Miljøpolitisk Redegørelse), and in a subsequent debate in November 1995, the ‘Folketing’ resolved that one of the four most important areas for efforts in environmental policy in future years is the phasing out of xenobiotic substances.

On this basis, the Environmental Protection Agency has now prepared this Position Paper on Commercial and Industrial Waste and Selected Waste-Flows.

Chapter one contains a summary of the Position Paper. Chapter two describes the background for the Position Paper, efforts made up to now, the need for improved efforts, and the interaction with the environmental space. In chapter three, four important challenges for commercial and industrial waste are described. These are, the large amounts, recycling, hazardous waste, and environmental contaminants. In chapter four, seven areas for efforts are presented with proposals for a number of initiatives. Finally, there is a report on what can be expected to result from these initiatives if they are implemented.

The Position Paper has been written for all interested parties, but is particularly aimed at those who are involved in waste generation, collection, disposal, and recycling. This will include, for example, industry, waste-treatment enterprises, product development enterprises, commercial enterprises, research establishments, municipalities, counties, citizens, organisations and politicians.

The Position Paper is now being sent for hearing. At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency is inviting selected municipalities, county councils, industry, organisations, etc. to discuss the proposals.

I hope that the Position Paper will open for good and constructive debate on the problems in the area of waste, and on the proposed initiatives which are included.

Copenhagen, July 1997
Erik Lindegaard, Director General, Danish Environmental Protection Agency