Commission invites comments on biodegradable waste management
The European Commission is inviting comments on its recently published working document on biodegradable waste management. The document constitutes part of the Commission's initial response to a request from the European Parliament and Council to evaluate whether there is a need for a Community initiative to promote composting. Roughly half of the 200 million tonnes of municipal solid waste produced in the Community in 1995 was biodegradable. 'Despite its huge volume and the problems it causes when landfilled, biodegradable waste has received little attention from the Community,' says the Commission. 'If it is properly managed, this waste stream may contribute towards the reduction of methane emissions and effective resource management.' While the recently adopted landfill directive called for major reductions in biodegradable municipal waste, it did not fix the way in which these reductions are to be obtained. However, the Commission points out that this Directive indicates that biodegrable waste should preferably be treated using biological treatment processes such as a composting or anaerobic digestion. The current working document on biodegradable waste management sets out the Commission's thoughts about such an initiative in order to consult governmental experts from Member States, environmental non governmental organisations (NGOs), industry and stakeholders in general.