The European Union’s (EU) approach to waste management is based on three principles: waste prevention, reuse and recycling, and improving final disposal and monitoring. In 2010, the total generation of waste from economic activities and households in the EU amounted to 2.570 million tonnes, which equates to 5.1 tonnes of waste per person. The EU-funded project BURBA http://www.burbaproject.net/ (Bottom-up selection, collection and management...

The Green Healthcare Programme has updated its Best Practice Guidance Document on Food Waste Reduction. The document has been updated to include some further information and a revised layout. You can access the document using the following link: http://www.greenhealthcare.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Food-Waste-Reduction-Best-Practice-updated.pdf This guide outlines actions to reduce the quantity of food waste generated in healthcare facilities.  The information...

The EU executive  organised a stakeholder meeting to determine which types of biodegradable waste can be designated as “products”. Such a definition would allow the waste to be used as fertiliser. Countries’ compliance with the forthcoming EU criteria will be voluntary, but if treated waste does not meet the EU criteria, it can only be...

The European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) in 2012 has enjoyed its biggest ever year. The week, which was first launched in 2009 by the LIFE project ‘EWWR’ (LIFE07 INF/F/000185), saw 10 793 separate actions organised across 25 European and two non-European countries, 17-25 November 2012. The LIFE project launched the EWWR to promote reductions in the amount of...

The Green Hospitality Programme launched a new booklet for the hospitality sector – “Resource Efficiency in the Hospitality Sector”. This booklet contains numerous case studies, on how to reduce utility costs through resource efficiency. Being resource efficient reduces the impact of business emissions on the environment. Highlighting how protecting the environment, can go hand in...

A new report on how Member States manage their municipal waste shows startling differences across the EU. The report grades the 27 Member States against 18 criteria, using green, orange and red flags in areas such as total waste recycled, pricing of waste disposal, and infringements of European legislation. The resulting scoreboard forms part of...

The EPA has issued a revised Waste Licence Application Form to reflect the requirements of the European Union Waste Framework Directive on Waste (2008/98/EC). The Waste Management Act 1996 to 2011 has already been amended to incorporate these requirements. The Waste Framework Directive and the Regulations apply to all waste activities It is likely that...

A report has been published by the Nordic Council of Ministers on food waste and provides a guide to help the hospitality sector reduce this waste. Canteens and restaurants in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark throw out 456,000 tons of food per year or 18kg per inhabitant per year. This only counts the food that could have...

A new certification and audit scheme for recycling post-consumer plastics will be officially launched Europe-wide in August. EuCertPlast was devised and launched by converters, recyclers and collectors of plastic in order to certify and audit post-consumer plastics recycling and aims to standardise transparency, waste traceability, and environmentally friendly best practices within the plastics recycling industry...

Clare County Council is increasing its monitoring of illegal waste activity such as fly-tipping, backyard burning of waste and illegal waste. Enforcement work is carried out regularly and in conjunction with other local authorities, the Gardaí and other state agencies, while the Council also is utilising CCTV surveillance to detect illegal waste activity. Clare County Council...