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Waste Strategy 2005-08 3 Initiatives
The Danish Waste Strategy focuses on prevention of resource consumption and environmental impacts from waste. Future initiatives will not be based purely on the volume of waste alone. The total resource consumption and environmental impact from waste treatment will be central elements in the evaluation of future initiatives. Waste prevention, increased recycling, reduced landfilling and improvements to the quality of waste treatment will continue to be important areas, and initiatives to tackle xenobiotic substances in waste must continue to be enhanced. For Waste Strategy 2005-2008 to succeed, a number of initiatives must be commenced at various levels. Some initiatives are of a more general nature, while others will be adapted to different sectors or directed at the waste fraction in question. The Strategy contains more than 100 new initiatives, covering the entire waste management spectrum. The majority of these initiatives are directed towards implementing EU and Danish regulations, and making new knowledge available through development and elucidation projects. The Strategy also contains a number of initiatives that aim to develop new tools, sub-strategies, environmental and cost-benefit assessments, and a small number of information activities. Waste can be divided according to the source (sector) generating it. These sectors are waste incineration plants, building and construction, households, industry, institutions, trade and offices, power plants, and wastewater treatment plants. Landfill sites are also considered to be a sector. The total volume of waste is distributed as follows: the building and construction sector 26%, households 24%, industry 21%, institutions/trade and offices 10%, and power plants 10%. Wastewater treatment plants contribute 9% of waste. Residues from waste incineration plants are not included in the total volume of waste in the figure, as they would otherwise be counted twice.
The Waste Strategy initiatives are described briefly below. The first initiatives are of a more general nature, followed by a number of initiatives divided according to the various waste source sectors. A more detailed description of initiatives is given in Appendices A to E. For each sector, total aims have been calculated for recycling, incineration and landfilling arising as a consequence of the initiatives taken in relation to each waste fraction. 3.1 General focus areasStatistical base There is a need to continue the systematic collection of comparable data on waste generation and treatment in a way that permits both enterprises, and local and national authorities, to use it. It is also important to measure the effect of future initiatives in the area of waste management. Initiatives to improve the statistical base for the entire waste sector are described in Appendix B on waste data. In 2002, the Minister for the Environment appointed a work group to examine the organisation of waste management. One of the group's tasks was to look at registration and reporting requirements, with the aim of simplifying these. Early in the plan period, a model for a central register for waste carriers will be developed. Indicators for resource consumption, energy consumption and landfill requirements The new waste indicators for resource consumption, energy consumption, and landfill requirements must be refined, and attempts must be made to obtain further life-cycle analysis data (LCA data) for the calculations. In order to be able to monitor the trends, the waste indicators should be recalculated regularly, every two or three years. There is a great need in the future to supplement the LCA databases with data for recycling processes, and especially for human and ecotoxic effects. Further LCA-based indicators should be developed, if the statistical base allows this. The waste indicators will provide an improved foundation for selecting the best environmental initiatives in the future. The final choice of treatment methods will be based on the indicators, together with other knowledge about the environmental impacts of waste, and cost-benefit analyses. Together, these initiatives provide a good prioritisation tool for selecting specific treatment methods for the individual waste fractions. Knowledge-sharing Knowledge-sharing is a central instrument to be used by the players in implementing the Strategy. Information can support and contribute to fulfilling the various elements of the Waste Strategy. Relevant information must be made available to the players via the Internet and other media. Waste Centre Denmark has a central role in this area. Waste prevention In Waste Strategy 2005-08, it has been decided to implement waste prevention measures initially where the barriers are small and where results can be achieved in the short term. Initiatives will be commenced in four sectors: households, the service sector, industry, and building and construction. Technology development Better quality in waste treatment requires the development of new technologies. There are several barriers that prevent this development taking place automatically. An example of a barrier is the fact that there is no security that the necessary volumes of waste will be supplied to the treatment plants (see Appendix B on technological development). If technologies adapted to future waste are to be developed at a general level, it is necessary to continue to support the development of new technologies. Furthermore, central requirements must be placed on waste treatment when technologies exist. This can contribute to treatment plants being established and operated under market conditions. Transparency in municipal fees Transparency needs to be achieved in municipal fees. Changes to the legal basis for fees in the Environmental Protection Act will be proposed during parliamentary session 2004-05. In addition to transparency, the following factors will be considered when selecting the formulation of the legal basis for fees: the municipalities' need for flexibility in waste management, the rule of law, the polluter pays principle, and environmental, economic and legal efficiency. Organisation of waste management In spring 2002, the Government appointed a work group to undertake a complete assessment of the scope and significance of the most important problems in the area of waste management. At the end of 2004, the work group will offer proposals for future solutions within areas where it considers that changes to organisation and legislation have been found to be necessary. The Waste Strategy should therefore not be considered to be an exhaustive description of the initiatives that will be implemented during the period in relation to the organisation of waste management and the use of control mechanisms. Rather, the Strategy will be supplemented by new initiatives when the Government has evaluated the recommendations of the work group. Municipal regulations The number of municipal regulations must be reduced, and the contents of regulations must be harmonised to make it easier to work out which rules apply in each municipality and to compare municipalities. Taxes Investigation will be made into whether waste tax rates support environmental priorities in the area of waste management. At the same time, assessment should be made of whether the waste tax can be used as a more precise control instrument, for example, in connection with the industrial use of residues from sludge incineration and shredder waste. A change in the waste tax will not lead to a total increase in yield from the tax. Capacity, general In most areas, the market generates the necessary capacity for the treatment of waste. This is especially true for waste recycling. One of the areas where it has not yet been possible to establish the necessary capacity is sites for landfilling acidic flue gas cleaning products. Incineration and landfilling are special areas where deregulation is being discussed. Currently, the capacity of incineration plants and landfill sites is largely controlled by the national and municipal authorities. If these parts of the waste management sector were deregulated, government control of this capacity will disappear. The advantages and disadvantages of potential deregulation of the waste management sector are being considered by the work group on the organisation of the waste sector. This group is considering how the necessary capacity can be ensured. Capacity at waste incineration plants Currently, challenges relating to changes in capacity requirements, overall energy policy, and stricter environmental requirements are solved in close co-operation between municipalities, counties and national authorities. It is believed that the planned expansions will provide sufficient capacity to meet incineration requirements in 2008. The objective is to match incineration capacity to actual requirements and locate it in areas where the best possible energy utilisation and greatest possible CO2 mitigation are obtained, taking into consideration the principle of regional self-sufficiency. Much incineration capacity is currently based purely on hot water generation. It is estimated that after 2004 there will still be a need to utilise capacity in several of these incinerators. However, these incinerators are being gradually phased out as new incinerators are built, and in 2008, approx. 95% of waste for incineration is expected to be processed in CHP incinerators that produce both heat and power. Landfill capacity Up until 2008, landfill capacity will be sufficient at the national level, but there are large regional differences due to varying degrees of difficulty in finding suitable sites for placing landfill. In addition, experience has shown that planning should be carried out with a 12-year horizon. Capacity planning should therefore look further ahead than the four years that are typical practice in planning, and should be carried out in cooperation between counties and municipalities. Hazardous waste A strategy for hazardous waste will be prepared. The purpose of this strategy will be to identify whether the various regulations relating to hazardous waste represent barriers to the best economic and environmental management of waste, and to identify potential initiatives to minimise these barriers. 3.2 Sectors and fractionsInitiatives for each sector are described below. Each sector description will contain details of how individual objectives will be achieved, including which fractions will be the focus of initiatives (see also Appendix D on sectors, and Appendix E on fractions). The table below contains an overview of actual waste treatment in 2001, based on the latest waste statistics, and an overview of the Waste Strategy's aims for 2008.
Where the sum of recycling, incineration and landfilling components does not amount to 100% in the table, this is because a small proportion of waste is put in temporary storage. 3.3 Waste incineration plantsAims for 2008
In 2001, approx. 540,000 tonnes of residues (slag and flue gas cleaning waste) were generated at waste incineration plants [6]. It is expected that increasing amounts of waste will be incinerated in the years ahead, leading to increasing amounts of residues being generated. In future, fractions that can be recycled or that cause environmental problems must be prevented from reaching waste incineration plants. Residue quality must be improved. Residue recycling and landfilling must also give maximum consideration to the protection of groundwater resources. This will require new treatment methods to be developed, for example, for flue gas cleaning waste. Waste incineration plants, initiatives
Electrical and electronic products must be collected separately and managed in a more environmentally sound manner. Requirements for their management were laid down in a Statutory Order issued in 1998. The new EU Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment must be implemented in Danish legislation by the end of 2004. Implementation of this directive will mean changes to requirements, and that more products will be subject to separate treatment. Flue gas cleaning waste is classified as hazardous waste [7]. This waste used to be landfilled temporarily or exported, as no suitable methods to stabilise it were available. On the basis of an environmental and cost-benefit analysis, and in cooperation with waste incineration plants, an action plan will be prepared for the future management of flue gas cleaning products generated in Denmark. This action plan will contain deadlines for when each problem with flue gas cleaning products has to be solved. Once environmentally responsible reprocessing methods have been established, specific rules will be laid down for the management of flue gas cleaning products from waste incineration plants. In 2001, 87% of slag [8] was recycled. Future recycling of slag must continue to give maximum consideration to the protection of groundwater resources. The Statutory Order on the recycling of residues and soil for building and construction purposes will be extended to contain limit values for organic substances. Recycling of slag from waste incineration must be increased by reducing the leaching of xenobiotic substances from the slag. This can be achieved by improved source separation of waste going to incineration or by sorting fractions with particularly high heavy metal content from the remaining slag. 3.4 Building and constructionAims for 2008
The building and construction sector is characterised by a very high recycling rate for the waste generated. This high rate will be maintained, as waste recycling saves important resources. The aim for 2008 is to maintain this high recycling rate. It must also be ensured that building and construction waste recycling gives consideration to the protection of groundwater resources. In 2001, building and construction waste amounted to approx. 3.4 million tonnes. The volume of building and construction waste has been increasing over the last ten years. Using funding from the Danish Environmental Council for Cleaner Products, a Construction Panel has been appointed which has prepared an action plan for sustainable construction. Cross-cutting initiatives During the next few years, a guide to waste prevention will be prepared. During the renovation of older properties, it is constructive to re-use previously used building elements. The guide will describe the activities that should be carried out during demolition to ensure the optimal re-use of building components. Renovation is an alternative to new construction, and the scope of property renovation compared to demolition therefore needs to be analysed. Such high levels of contaminants have been recorded in building and construction waste that a nationwide investigation needs to be carried out to determine which contaminants are present and in what concentrations. The sources of these contaminants must also be identified. An investigation will be carried out to describe the normal procedure for managing building and construction waste in the municipalities. For example, this investigation will clarify whether the individual fractions are mixed together before they are recycled, and whether the mixed fractions are recycled with the necessary Section 19 permission or Chapter 5 environmental approval under the Environmental Protection Act. It will be investigated whether there are environmental and health effects in connection with the use, renovation and demolition of buildings containing PCB. Building and construction waste has sometimes been found to contain contaminants and should be treated like other residues. Consideration will be given to whether the recycling of building and construction waste should be regulated under the Statutory Order on residues and soil for building and construction purposes, in the long term. The necessary basis for revising the Statutory Order to also cover building and construction waste needs to be provided. It is expected that the Statutory Order will be extended to include fractions containing organic contaminants. A proposal will be made for specific resource and environment indicators for individual construction projects. These indicators will enable building contractors to take responsibility for improving environmental factors in construction. Principles will also be proposed for a benchmarking system that makes it possible to evaluate environmental initiatives. A project will be initiated to provide an overview of where environmental considerations should be incorporated into the existing legal and regulatory base. The existing requirements need to be assessed to determine whether they support the environment goals presented in the Construction Panel's action plan. Focus needs to be given to the use of chemicals in buildings and building products. An investigation will therefore be initiated with the aim of developing a simple tool to evaluate and prioritise the use of chemicals in the building sector. Building and construction sector, initiatives
Asphalt recycling must be done in a responsible manner, taking into account environmental and health impacts. The first step is to ensure that the health risk associated with laying crushed asphalt is minimised. This can be achieved by requiring asphalt to be compressed or compacted after laying, to limit dust emission. In the longer term, asphalt recycling will be covered by the Statutory Order on recycling of residues and soil for building and construction purposes. There must continue to be a high rate of concrete recycling, in an environmentally responsible manner. In the longer term, regulations governing the management of concrete will be covered by the Statutory Order on recycling of residues and soil for building and construction purposes. Electrical and electronic products must be collected separately and managed in a more environmentally sound manner. Requirements for their management were laid down in a Statutory Order issued in 1998. The new EU Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment has to be implemented in Danish legislation by the end of 2004. Implementation of this directive will mean changes to requirements, and that more products will be subject to separate treatment. A strategy for hazardous waste will be prepared. The purpose of this strategy will be to identify whether the various regulations related to hazardous waste represent barriers to the best economic and environmental management, and to identify potential initiatives to minimise these barriers. Understanding of how to use the hazardous waste criteria needs to be continually disseminated. New treatment methods for hazardous waste will be developed. Efforts will be made to ensure that criteria for environmental hazards are implemented in Danish regulations. Impregnated wood containing chromium, copper and arsenic-containing substances will continue to be treated as non-incinerable waste, and landfilled. When better treatment methods have been developed, these types of impregnated wood will be collected separately. Requirements for the management of certain types of impregnated wood will be introduced on the basis of an environmental and cost-benefit assessment. Mineral wool, as waste, represents a health problem. It is hazardous due to its local irritation and carcinogenic effects. Mineral wool produced after 2000 is less hazardous, as it is considered to only cause local irritation. The potential for recycling mineral wool must be investigated, including the development of recycling methods and of the market for recyclable mineral wool. District heating pipes can contain ozone layer depleting substances, such as CFC's and HCFC's. Regulations for separate treatment of pre-insulated district heating pipes will be laid down. An investigation will also be carried out into the potential for separate treatment of other waste fractions containing ozone layer depleting substances. Under new EU regulations, Denmark has to recycle 22.5% of plastic packaging in 2008. Greater quantities of plastic packaging must therefore be collected from the construction sector. PVC waste will be separated. PVC construction waste contains a large fraction of hard PVC that can currently be recycled. Recyclable hard PVC construction waste will therefore be assigned to recycling. Non-recyclable PVC waste will be landfilled. When suitable treatment methods have been developed, new requirements for special management of such waste will be laid down, if this is considered to be environmentally and cost-effective. PCB is used in sealing compounds and to seal insulating glass. A project will be initiated to investigate the health impacts associated with the use, renovation or demolition of buildings containing PCB. The project will focus on an evaluation of the PCB contribution from building dust, indoor air and soil close to buildings. Residues from power plants, waste incineration and soil are widely recycled in building and construction works. Guidelines on the recycling and relocation of soil and residues will be prepared. Statutory Order no. 655 of 27 June 2000 on recycling of residues and soil for building and construction purposes will be revised to also cover soil contaminated with organic compounds. Tiles represent approx. 5% of building and construction waste. In the longer term, regulations governing the management of tiles will be covered by the Statutory Order on recycling of residues and soil for building and construction purposes. Under new EU regulations, Denmark has to recycle 15% of wooden packaging and 55% of all packaging waste in 2008. In order to achieve this goal, an analysis will initially be completed of the volume of wooden packaging waste, and potential buyers. Wooden packaging will also be included in the transport packaging agreement, and requirements for the separation of wooden transport packaging will be laid down. 3.5 Landfill sitesIn 2001, 1.3 million tonnes waste were landfilled. Over the last 15 years, attempts to reduce the volume of landfilled waste have been successful. The design and operation of landfill sites must conform to the requirements in the Statutory Order on landfill sites. As a consequence of Denmark's implementation of the EU Directive on the landfill of waste, the number of landfill sites in Denmark is expected to be further reduced. Cross-cutting initiatives The potential to recycle/utilise waste must constantly be investigated so that in the future, waste will only be landfilled when it is environmentally appropriate and responsible to do so. Requirements will be laid down governing the design and operation of landfill sites and limit values for the leaching characteristics of waste. These will aim to ensure, as far as possible, that the consequences of a failure in the environmental protection systems does not lead to irreversible damage to nature and/or the environment surrounding a landfill site. As a result of the implementation of the EU Directive on the landfill of waste (including annex harmonisations) the contents of the landfill guidelines from 1997 have become obsolete in a number of areas. The landfill guidelines therefore need to be updated, giving special attention to a description of the future Danish waste characterisation requirements aimed at ensuring "sustainable landfilling". Training plans, training material and various tests will be prepared with the aim of ensuring that employees at landfill sites can attain the certificates required under the Statutory Order on training [9]. Landfill sites, initiatives
The Minister for the Environment, together with representatives from Danish Regions, Local Government Denmark (LGDK) and the Association of Danish Ports, is considering a new administration basis for managing seabed sediment. This is expected to be available in autumn 2003 at the earliest. Further potential relevant initiatives are awaiting the contents of the proposal for a new administration basis. Aims for 2008
3.6 HouseholdsHousehold waste consists of domestic waste (including paper, glass and food waste collected separately), bulky waste, and garden waste. A small proportion of household waste is hazardous. From 1995 to 2001, there has been an increase in the volume of household waste. The major part of this increase can be attributed to garden waste in particular. The increase should also be considered in the context of increased purchasing power and private consumption in the nation. Focus must be given to consumption, and the resulting volumes of waste.
Cross-cutting initiatives In order to meet the aims for domestic waste, garden waste and bulky waste, it will be necessary to involve the public in the various collection schemes. This will require increased communication activities within each municipality in order to create the greatest possible awareness of the specific waste collection schemes, including schemes for hazardous waste. Another purpose of information activities is to increase people's interest in purchasing products that have a lower environmental impact throughout their entire life cycle, and generate as little waste as possible. The Ministry of the Environment will conduct an information campaign on the link between consumption and waste volumes, with specific recommendations regarding, for example, quality/durable products, products made from recycled materials, reusable packaging and packaged goods, etc. Many consumption and behaviour patterns become established as children. To ensure that future generations are conscious of resource and waste problems, information and teaching materials will be prepared for pre-schools, and primary and secondary schools. This material will highlight the link between increased consumption and environmental problems related to resource consumption and waste generation. Similarly, all children's day-care centres and educational institutions should be encouraged to sort their own waste. 3.6.1 Domestic wasteAims for 2008
Domestic waste, initiatives
A tool will be developed to help municipalities evaluate whether incineration, biogasification or composting of the organic component of domestic waste is best. This will enable municipalities to assess which treatment for organic domestic waste is environmentally and economically most effective and make decisions accordingly. Previous studies have shown that the two-part collection and pre-treatment of waste is particularly expensive and has a critical impact on whether it is economically viable to recycle organic waste. The aim is therefore to reduce collection costs and develop pre-processing technology. As an alternative, the possibility of sorting the combined domestic waste centrally in order to recycle the organic component is being investigated, taking into account both environmental and working environment factors. From 2005, municipalities will be required to give people the opportunity to separate the relevant plastic packaging and deliver it for recycling, for example at recycling centres. Requirements will be laid down for increased collection of iron and metal packaging from households, for example, via recycling centres or under existing bulky waste schemes. Aims for 2008
3.6.2 Bulky wasteRecycling of bulky waste can be increased by reorganising or improving existing schemes. In recent years, many municipalities have set up manned recycling centres, often supplemented by collection schemes. Bulky waste is an area that requires local solutions and where there are advantages in building networks. Cross-cutting initiatives The Ministry of the Environment will encourage municipalities to participate in establishing or improving existing re-use schemes for bulky waste. Well-developed schemes to ensure that reusable products do not end up in the waste system should be spread to more municipalities, possibly in cooperation with charities. Municipalities will also be encouraged to extend the municipal bulky waste schemes to cover many more recyclable waste fractions, so that the volumes collected in the incinerable and non-incinerable fractions can be reduced. It is not feasible to calculate the environmental and socio-economic effects of alternative forms of treatment for the many hundreds of different products that end up in bulky waste. Municipalities will therefore have to base their evaluations of which types of products should be directed to recycling on the waste indicators for the various material types and on the potential markets for the various fractions. Municipalities will be encouraged to establish networks for staff at recycling centres and involved in collection schemes for bulky waste, to allow them to share practical experience, including knowledge of potential markets for the many material fractions and products in bulky waste. The Ministry of the Environment will also encourage building associations and other apartment buildings to establish bulky waste schemes to ensure that re-usable items do not end up in the waste system (exchange centres), and that recyclable waste fractions are separated for recycling. Waste collection staff and property administrators should be in close contact with residents to inform them about correct separation of their waste, with the particular aim of increasing the re-use and recycling of bulky waste. Municipalities will therefore need to take the initiative to train and instruct janitors, caretakers, waste collection staff and staff at recycling centres, to equip them to give better advice to people about waste separation. Bulky waste, initiatives
Electrical and electronic products will be collected separately and managed in a more environmentally sound manner. Requirements for their management were laid down in a Statutory Order issued in 1998. The new EU Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment has to be implemented in Danish legislation by the end of 2004. Implementation of this directive will mean changes to requirements, and that more products will be subject to separate treatment, including refrigeration equipment. The directive is based on producer responsibility. Impregnated wood containing chromium, copper and arsenic-containing substances will continue to be treated as waste not suitable for incineration, and landfilled. When better treatment methods have been developed, these types of impregnated wood will be collected separately. Requirements for the management of certain types of impregnated wood will be introduced on the basis of an environmental and cost-benefit assessment. Efforts will be made to ensure that PVC waste is managed in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner. This can be achieved by drafting requirements for the collection and management of PVC waste. 3.6.3 Garden wasteAims for 2008
Municipalities have voluntarily established schemes and facilities for composting garden waste. It is not expected that recycling of garden waste can be increased further [10]. Existing initiatives will be maintained, and no new initiatives are expected in this area. 3.7 IndustryThe recycling goal for industrial waste for 2004 has almost been reached, but too much waste is being landfilled. Concerted efforts will therefore be made to reduce the volume of landfilled waste, while maintaining the recycling rate of 65%. Aims for 2008
The aim for 2008 is to reduce the volume of landfilled waste to a maximum of 15%. A study has shown that shredder waste and foundry waste account for 27% of industrial waste landfilled in 1997, corresponding to approx. 190,000 tonnes [11]. Other fractions will be separated to increase recycling, if environmental cost-benefit analyses indicate a benefit from doing so. These fractions are described below. Cross-cutting initiatives Measures will be initiated to prevent waste. Information on volumes of waste, composition, and potential for recycling will be improved in future preparation of environmental approvals, green accounts, and in the establishment of environmental management in enterprises. Environmental approvals will be improved in the area of waste management. With the implementation of the IPPC Directive [12] in Statutory Order no. 807 of 25 October 1999, as most recently amended by Statutory Order no. 606 of 15 July 2001, on approval for specially polluting activities, the waste component has been given high priority. Section 13(2), no. 4 of the Statutory Order states that the enterprise must take the necessary steps to avoid waste generation, and where this is not possible, to exploit the potential for recycling and recirculation. Assessment will be made as to whether increased use of environmental management in enterprises can be best achieved through sector agreements or whether guidelines on conditions for waste reduction need to be prepared for enterprises subject to approval and not requiring approval. These guidelines could also describe BAT's (Best Available Techniques) to help reduce waste, etc., for a number of waste-intensive enterprises, and the significance of BAT's in relation to the maximum waste volumes. The existing waste analysis model will be refined so that it can also be used in large enterprises. The model can identify fractions for which internal recycling of the enterprise's waste can be increased. Product wastage at the consumer due to inappropriate packaging that is impossible or difficult to completely empty could be significantly reduced if packaging designers and manufacturers developed packaging that it was possible to empty. Packaging manufacturers and producers who fill packaging will therefore be encouraged to develop and use better packaging that reduces wastage. Based on both an environmental and economic assessment, efforts should be made to ensure that large plastic containers (over 20 litres) from industrial enterprises are re-used. It is expected that regulations will be implemented, requiring large containers to be separated for re-use or recycling. In general, too much industrial waste is landfilled. Specific initiatives will be carried out, targeting individual fractions and sectors. Industry, initiatives
The EU Animal By-Products Regulation, administered by the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, has led the Ministry of the Environment to issue new regulations for the recycling and disposal of animal waste, including industrial kitchen waste, in the Statutory Order on sludge. The aim of these regulations is to ensure optimal treatment of animal waste, based on environmental considerations. Investigations will be carried out into the possibility of recycling increased volumes of animal waste for agricultural purposes through biogasification. Trials will be carried out on the recovery of phosphor from slag from incinerated meat-and-bone meal. Requirements for increased recycling of plastic components resulting from an EU directive will be laid down through an amendment to the Statutory Order on management of waste in the form of motor vehicles and derived waste fractions. Initiatives supporting the development of new separation technologies aimed at recycling plastic and exploiting other organic fractions will be promoted as far as possible. Analyses of treatment technologies have been carried out. This work will continue with the aim of establishing plant to exploit shredder waste derived from end-of-life vehicles and a number of other composite products. Electrical and electronic products will be collected separately and managed in a more environmentally sound manner. Requirements for their management were laid down in a Statutory Order issued in 1998. The new EU Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment must be implemented in Danish legislation by the end of 2004. Implementation of this directive will mean changes to requirements, and that more products will be subject to separate treatment. The directive is based on producer responsibility. Regulations on the waste treatment of refrigeration equipment will be incorporated in a revised Statutory Order on management of waste electrical and electronic equipment, expected to be issued in 2004. Further to the action plan for environmentally aware public procurement officers, guidelines have been prepared for public procurement officers on a number of items of electronic office equipment, and eco-labelling criteria will be prepared for several products. The development of new technologies for reprocessing electrical and electronic equipment will be evaluated regularly. Amendments to regulations to promote the use of best available technology will be made as the need arises. Under the agreement with the Danish Tyre Trade Environmental Foundation, information campaigns will be conducted, aimed at minimising the volume of waste and promoting the use of retreaded tyres. A strategy for hazardous waste will be prepared. The purpose of this strategy will be to identify whether the various regulations related to hazardous waste represent barriers to the best economic and environmental management, and to identify potential initiatives to minimise these barriers. Understanding of how to use the hazardous waste criteria needs to be continually disseminated. New treatment methods for hazardous waste will be developed. Efforts will be made to ensure that criteria for environmental hazards are implemented in Danish regulations. Separation of plastic film transport packaging from industry must be increased under the EU Packaging Directive. Municipalities will have to give priority to monitoring that plastic transport packaging is collected for recycling. Waste producers will have to participate more actively in the organisation of effective schemes. It needs to be easier for sector associations that represent waste producers/retail chains to establish nationwide collection schemes. The legislative changes necessary to support this will be investigated with the aim of amending the legislation in 2004, so that the new schemes can function from 2005. Increased focus will also be given to enterprises that produce large volumes of plastic film waste. Finally, it may be necessary to extend the requirements on collection to cover smaller enterprises. Separation of other plastic packaging from industry must also be increased. The potential for recycling and re-using plastic containers from trade and industry has been investigated. Environmental and economic factors will also be investigated. When the project has been completed in the middle of 2003, a decision will be made on which types of packaging need to be separated. Iron and metal packaging must be referred to recycling. Impregnated wood containing chromium, copper and arsenic-containing substances will continue to be treated as waste not suitable for incineration, and landfilled. When a plant has been established, these types of impregnated wood will be collected separately. Requirements for the management of certain types of impregnated wood will be introduced on the basis of an environmental and cost-benefit assessment. Under new EU regulations, Denmark must recycle 15% of wooden packaging and 55% of all packaging waste in 2008. In order to achieve this goal, an analysis will initially be completed of the volume of wooden packaging waste, and potential buyers. Wooden packaging will also be included in the transport packaging agreement, and requirements for the separation of wooden transport packaging will be laid down. A project was initiated in 2002 to find alternative uses for glass packaging. This project will determine volumes and evaluate the potential for using glass in cement, tiles and road construction. There will be a need for further development and trials of other methods for alternative uses for glass. A work group will be set up to determine the marketed volumes of PVC and propose a model for calculating the expected volume of waste. The volume of waste will be estimated through to 2020. Efforts will be made to ensure that PVC waste is managed in an environmental and cost-effective manner. This can be achieved by drawing up requirements for the collection and management of PVC waste, and providing tax exemption for products that are managed in an environmentally responsible manner. Efforts will be made when drafting future regulations for the management of PVC waste to ensure that products containing lead and cadmium are separated, either for chemical treatment or landfilling. If exemptions are granted for the sale of products containing lead, guidelines will be prepared on how recycling of the regenerated PVC material containing lead can be carried out. In order to promote the use of new technology for processing PVC waste, an amendment to the Act on taxes on waste and raw materials will be sought, such that new plants are exempted from paying waste tax. It is not possible to keep waste incineration plants completely free of PVC waste. The Environmental Protection Agency has evaluated alternative products for soft PVC building products. Other areas will be continually evaluated to examine the potential for promoting the use of alternatives to the products that end up at waste incineration plants. It is expected that a decision can be made during 2003-2004 on which treatment should be used for shredder waste. Initiatives that monitor and support the development of better treatment methods that can utilise the resources contained in shredder waste will be promoted as much as possible. Once the treatment technique is ready, regulations for the future management of shredder waste will be prepared, based on a cost-benefit analysis. It is currently technically possible for a large proportion of waste from foundries to be recycled. Efforts will be made to ensure that all foundries in Denmark work towards recycling this waste, if this is found to be environmentally and cost-effective. 3.8 Institutions, trade and officesAims for 2008
Recycling of waste from institutions, trade and offices [14] is far below the goal of 50% for 2004. Over the next few years, focus will therefore be given to separation of a number of waste fractions for recycling or special treatment. The aim for 2008 is to achieve a recycling rate of 50%. This will primarily be achieved through source separation of a number of fractions for recycling. A number of these initiatives are aimed at ensuring compliance with targets in the relevant EU directives. Other initiatives will only be carried out if environmental cost-benefit analyses show them to be beneficial. Cross-cutting initiatives The existing waste analysis model will be refined so that it can also be used by service enterprises. The model can identify fractions for which internal recycling of the enterprise's waste can be increased. The trade and repair sectors need to be encouraged to extend, improve and optimise the use of returnable transport packaging and make greater use of reusable transport packaging in general. The Danish Environmental Council for Cleaner Products appointed a Retail Trade Panel in 2002. The aim of the panel is to generate activities to change attitudes and behaviour, with the aim of reducing the total environmental impact from the retail trade. The panel also aims to promote the range of and market for cleaner products in the area of convenience goods. In the area of waste management, the panel will initiate activities relating to organic waste, packaging waste, shop personnel training and packaging systems. Institutions, trade and offices, initiatives
As of 1 August 2003, in the Statutory Order on sludge, new regulations for the recycling and disposal of animal waste, including industrial kitchen waste, have been drawn up in cooperation with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. The scheme for food waste from industrial kitchens has been evaluated and discontinued against the background of the prohibition against use in pig food. There are large quantities of organic waste in grocery stores. The best way of managing organic waste from consumer goods is to be determined in cooperation with the Retail Trade Panel and the food authorities. Ways of making it easier for retail chains to organise nationwide collection of organic waste will also be investigated. Requirements for increased recycling of plastic components resulting from an EU directive will be stipulated in an amendment to the Statutory Order on management of waste in the form of motor vehicles and derived waste fractions, during the term of the plan. Initiatives supporting the development of new separation technologies aimed at recycling plastic and exploiting other organic fractions will be promoted as far as possible. Electrical and electronic equipment will be collected separately and managed in a more environmentally sound manner. Requirements for their management were laid down in a Statutory Order issued in 1998. The new EU Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment must be implemented in Danish legislation by the end of 2004. Implementation of this directive will mean changes to requirements, and that more products will be subject to separate treatment. The directive is based on producer responsibility. Further to the action plan for environmentally aware public procurement officers, guidelines have been prepared for public procurement officers on a number of items of electronic office equipment, and eco-labelling criteria will be prepared for several products. Development of new technologies for reprocessing waste electrical and electronic equipment will be evaluated regularly. Amendments to regulations to promote the use of best available technology will be made as the need arises. Regulations on the waste treatment of refrigeration equipment will be incorporated in a revised Statutory Order on management of waste electrical and electronic equipment, expected to be issued in 2004. Under the agreement with the Danish Tyre Trade Environmental Foundation, information campaigns will be conducted, aimed at minimising the volume of waste and promoting the use of retreaded tyres. A strategy for hazardous waste will be prepared. The purpose of this strategy will be to identify whether the various regulations related to hazardous waste represent barriers to the best economic and environmental management, and to identify potential initiatives to minimise these barriers. Understanding of how to use the hazardous waste criteria needs to be continually disseminated. New treatment methods for hazardous waste will be developed. Efforts will be made to ensure that criteria for environmental hazards are implemented in Danish regulations. Separation of plastic film transport packaging from trade, etc., must be increased under the Packaging Directive. Municipalities will have to give priority to monitoring that plastic transport packaging is collected for recycling. Waste producers will have to participate more actively in the organisation of effective schemes. It needs to be easier for sector associations representing waste producers/retail chains to establish nationwide collection schemes. The legislative changes necessary to support this will be investigated with the aim of amending the legislation in 2004, so that the new schemes can function from 2005. Increased focus will also be given to enterprises that produce large volumes of plastic film waste. Finally, it may be necessary to extend the requirements on collection to cover smaller enterprises. Separation of other plastic packaging from trade, etc., must also be increased. The potential for recycling and re-using plastic containers from trade and industry has been investigated. Environmental and economic factors will also be investigated. When the project has been completed in the middle of 2003, a decision will be made on which types of packaging need to be separated. Efforts will be made to ensure that PVC waste is managed in an environmental and cost-effective manner. This can be achieved by drawing up requirements for the collection and management of PVC waste, and providing tax exemption for products that are managed in an environmentally responsible manner. Efforts will be made when drafting future regulations for the management of PVC waste to ensure that products containing lead and cadmium are separated, either for chemical treatment or landfilling. If exemptions are granted for the sale of products containing lead, guidelines will be prepared on how recycling of the regenerated PVC material containing lead can be carried out. It is not possible to keep waste incineration plants completely free of PVC waste. The Environmental Protection Agency will continually evaluate other areas to examine the potential for promoting the use of alternatives to the products that end up at waste incineration plants. Under new EU regulations, Denmark must recycle 15% of wooden packaging and 55% of all packaging waste in 2008. In order to achieve this goal, an analysis will initially be completed of the volume of wooden packaging waste, and potential buyers. Wooden packaging will also be included in the transport packaging agreement, and requirements for the separation of wooden transport packaging will be laid down.
3.9 Power plantsThe Plan of Action for Energy - Energy 21 - will result in coal-based energy generation being almost completely phased out within 30 years. This will have a decisive impact on the volume of residues from coal-fired power plants, leading to a significant decline. The volumes still being generated in the years ahead will continue to be recycled, giving maximum consideration to the protection of groundwater resources. Under Energy 21, wood and energy crops will in future represent an increasing element of fuel, and recycling of the ash generated will have high priority. Power plants, initiatives
The Statutory Order on bioash will be revised to incorporate the latest knowledge on the availability of nutrients in hardened bioash. 3.10 Public wastewater treatment plantsAims for 2008
Recycled waste from municipal wastewater treatment plants represented 67% of the total volume (wet weight) in 2001 [15]. Both the fertiliser and energy content in sewage sludge are to be utilised, but due to more stringent requirements concerning the content of certain organic chemicals in sludge, the current extensive application of sludge to farmland is expected to decrease. The aim is therefore to maintain 50% recycling in 2008. Wastewater treatment plants, initiatives
In the long term, it is expected that the quality of sludge and its recycling potential will be improved through the general policy of phasing-out xenobiotic substances. The levels of these substances in sludge are thus expected to be further reduced. The Ministry of the Environment hopes to influence the revision of the EU Sludge Directive so that it ends up containing more stringent requirements for heavy metal contents, in line with existing Danish requirements, and introduces requirements relating to certain organic xenobiotic substances. Footnotes[6] Residues from waste incineration plants are not included in statements of total waste amounts, as they would otherwise be counted twice. [7] In 2001, 73,800 tonnes of flue gas cleaning waste were generated. [8] In 2001, 465,600 tonnes of slag were generated. [9] Statutory Order no 647 of 29 June 2001 on training of operations managers and personnel employed at landfill sites. [10] In 2001, recycling amounted to 99%, and only 1% of garden waste was landfilled. In 2001, the volume of garden waste was 458,000 tonnes. [11] The total volume of industrial waste in 2001 was 2,616,000 tonnes. Approx. 22% of this waste was landfilled and 65% recycled. [12] Industrial Prevention Pollution Control Directive no. 96/61/EC, 24 September 1996. [13]Industrial Prevention Pollution Control Directive no. 96/61/EC, 24 September 1996. [14] The recycling percentage was 36% in 2001.<0} [15]In 2001, a total of 1,123,000 tonnes of sludge, sand and screenings were generated at wastewater treatment plants. Under Waste 21, the goal was to recycle 50% of the sludge.
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