Extended Producer Responsibility: Policy Highlights
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Hazardous Waste Minimization Guide
Waste Minimization Guide Environmental Health & Safety 4202 E. Fowler Ave. OPM 100 Tampa, FL 33620 (813) 974-4036 h ttp://www.usf.edu/ehs/ June 1, 2020 Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Methods for Waste Minimization ............................................................................................................. 2 Source Reduction .................................................................................................................................. 2 Environmentally Sound Recycling (ESR) .................................................................................................... 4 Treatment ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Managing Waste Efficiently ...................................................................................................................... 4 Flammable Liquids and Solids ............................................................................................................... 5 Halogenated Solvents ........................................................................................................................... 5 Solvent Contaminated Towels and Rags ............................................................................................... 6 Paint related Wastes ............................................................................................................................ -
Towards a More Resource-Efficient and Circular Economy the Role of The
Towards a more resource-efficient and circular economy The role of the G20 | 1 A background report prepared for the 2021 G20 Presidency of Italy Towards a more resource-efficient and circular economy The role of the G20 PUBE TOWARDS A MORE RESOURCE-EFFICIENT AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY © OECD 2021 2 | Table of contents Executive Summary 4 1. Introduction 9 2. Past trends in material consumption and waste generation 10 3. Projections of future materials use 18 4. The environmental impacts of materials use 21 5. A transition to a circular economy can lower resource demands and environmental impacts and contribute to the economic and social recovery 24 6. Recent developments on resource efficiency and circular economy policies 27 7. The role of cities towards the circular economy transition 32 8. Towards a G20 policy vision on resource efficiency 38 References 47 TOWARDS A MORE RESOURCE-EFFICIENT AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY © OECD 2021 | 3 Tables Table 1. Selected environmental impacts of materials use 21 Table 2. Selected examples of national, regional and local strategies for resource efficiency, waste management and the circular economy of G20 countries 27 Figures Figure 1. Domestic Material Consumption in G20, OECD and BRIICS 10 Figure 2. Domestic material consumption per capita [tonnes] 11 Figure 3. Resource productivity levels differ substantially among G20 countries, but some improvements could be achieved 12 Figure 4. Despite improvements in resource productivity, domestic material consumption increased in G20 countries 13 Figure 5. Material footprint per capita remains high also for countries with low Domestic Material Consumption per capita 14 Figure 6. As income levels rise, waste generation increases [left], but waste treatment processes improve [right] 15 Figure 7. -
Five Principles of Waste Product Redesign Under the Upcycling Concept
International Forum on Energy, Environment Science and Materials (IFEESM 2015) Five Principles of Waste Product Redesign under the Upcycling Concept Jiang XU1 & Ping GU1 1School of Design, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China KEYWORD: Upcycling; Redesign principle; Green design; Industrial design; Product design ABSTRACT: It explores and constructs the principles of waste product redesign which are based on the concept of upcycling. It clarifies the basic concept of upcycling, briefly describes its current development, deeply discusses its value and significance, combines with the idea of upcycling which behinds regeneration design principle from the concept of “4R” of green design, and takes real-life case as example to analyze the principles of waste product redesign. It puts forward five principles of waste product redesign: value enhancement, make the most use of waste, durable and environmental protection, cost control and populace's aesthetic. INTRODUCTION Recently, environmental problems was becoming worse and worse, while as a developing country, China is facing dual pressures that economical development and environmental protection. However, large numbers of goods become waste every day all over the world, but the traditional recycling ways, such as melting down and restructuring, not only produce much CO2, but also those restruc- tured parts or products cannot mention in the same breath with raw ones. As a result, the western countries started to center their attention to the concept of “upcycling” of green design, which can transfer the old and waste things into more valuable products to vigorously develop the green econ- omy. Nevertheless, this new concept hasn’t been well known and the old notion of traditionally inef- ficient reuse still predominant in China, so it should be beneficial for our social development to con- struct the principles of waste products’ redesign which are based on the concept of upcycling. -
Extended Producer Responsibility and the Impact of Online Sales
Extended Producer Responsibility and the Impact of Online Sales RE-CIRCLE POLICY HIGHLIGHTS Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy Project Extended Producer Responsibility and the Impact of Online Sales Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes generate much needed funding for waste management and can be an effective means of boosting collection and recycling rates. However, free-riding associated with the rapid growth of online sales is compromising the viability of these schemes, and has led to the realisation that additional measures are needed to support their operation. RE-CIRCLE Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy Project Key Messages The emergence of the internet, and the resulting growth in online retailing, has improved market access and generated important benefits for consumers. At the same time, online retailing – particularly where it exists in concert with cross-border sales – has begun to adversely affect the functioning of traditional regulatory frameworks. Free-riding on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes – where products placed on the market are not accompanied, or only partially accompanied, by required EPR fees – is one such example. Consumers now have much improved access to sellers abroad but, in many cases, these sellers do not comply with EPR regulations in the country of sale. This creates several problems: • Free-riding that consists in not undertaking physical ‘take-back’ obligations leads to lower collection rates for end of life products. • Free-riding by not paying EPR fees results in financing problems for waste management activities. • Free-riding by under-estimating the number of products placed on the market results in a potential over-estimation of national recycling rates. -
3.2 Plastics and Eco-Labelling Schemes
1 Contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3 2 Added value & strategic orientation of PLASTECO workshops ........................................... 4 3 Thematic background ....................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Green Public Procurement (GPP) for promoting alternatives to single-use plastics ....... 5 3.1.1 Policy framework .............................................................................................. 5 3.1.2 Case study 1: Different governmental approaches from Slovakia and Belgium ... 7 3.1.3 Case study 2: GPP criteria for eliminating single-use plastic cups and bottles in medical centres ................................................................................................................ 8 3.1.4 Case study 3: Public procurement as a circular economy enabler ...................... 10 3.2 Plastics and eco-labelling schemes .............................................................................. 10 3.3 Developing secondary raw plastic markets ................................................................. 14 3.3.1 The need to align supply and demand .............................................................. 14 3.3.2 The role of waste management ........................................................................ 16 3.3.3 Case study: Developing new methods for higher-quality secondary plastics ...... 18 3.4 Barriers to the adoption -
Workplace Recycling
SETTING UP Workplace Recycling 1 Form a Enlist a group of employees interested in recycling and waste prevention to set up and monitor collection systems Recycling Team to ensure ongoing success. This is a great team-building exercise and can positively impact employee morale as well as the environment. 2 Determine Customize your recycling program based on your business. Consider performing a waste audit or take inventory of materials the kinds of materials in your trash & recycling. to recycle Commonly recycled business items: Single-Stream Recycling • Aluminum & tin cans; plastic & glass bottles • Office paper, newspaper, cardboard • Magazines, catalogs, file folders, shredded paper 3 Contact Find out if recycling services are already in place. If not, ask the facility or property manager to set them up. Point your facility out that in today’s environment, employees expect to recycle at work and that recycling can potentially reduce costs. If recycling is currently provided, check with the manager to make sure good recycling education materials or property are available to all employees. This will help employees to recycle right, improve the quality of recyclable materials, manager and increase recycling participation. 4 Coordinate Work station recycling containers – Provide durable work station recycling containers or re-use existing training containers like copy paper boxes. Make recycling available at each work station. with the Click: Get-Started-Recycling-w_glass or Get-Started-Recycling-without-glass to print recycling container labels. Label your trash containers as well: Get-Started-Trash-with-food waste or janitorial crew Get-Started-Trash -no-food waste. and/or staff Central area containers – Evaluate the type and size of containers for common areas like conference rooms, hallways, reception areas, and cafes, based on volume, location, and usage. -
Automated Waste Collection – How to Make Sure It Makes Sense for Your Community
AUTOMATED WASTE COLLECTION – HOW TO MAKE SURE IT MAKES SENSE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY Marc J. Rogoff, Ph.D. Richard E. Lilyquist, P.E. SCS Engineers Public Works Department Tampa, Florida City of Lakeland Lakeland, Florida Donald Ross Jeffrey L. Wood Kessler Consulting, Inc Solid Waste Division Tampa, Florida City of Lakeland Lakeland, Florida ABSTRACT Automated side-load trucks were first implemented in the City of Phoenix in the 1970s with the aim of ending The decision to implement solid waste collection the back-breaking nature of residential solid waste automation is a complex one and involves a number of collection, and to minimize worker injuries. Since then factors that should be considered, including engineering, thousands of public agencies and private haulers have risk management, technology assessment, costs, and moved from the once traditional read-load method of public acceptance. This paper analyzes these key issues waste collection to one that also provides the customer and provides a case study of how waste collection with a variety of choices in standardized, rollout carts. automation was considered by the City of Lakeland, These automated programs have enabled communities Florida. throughout the country to significantly reduce worker compensation claims and minimize insurance expenses, HOW DID AUTOMATED COLLECTION GET while at the same time offer opportunities to workers STARTED? who are not selected for their work assignment based solely on physical skills. The evolution of solid waste collection vehicles has been historically driven by an overwhelming desire by solid MODERN APPLICATION OF AUTOMATION waste professionals to collect more waste for less money, as well as lessening the physical demands on sanitation In an automated collection system, residents are provided workers. -
Circular Economy Action Plan for a Cleaner and More Competitive Europe
Circular Economy Action Plan For a cleaner and more competitive Europe #EU GreenDeal 2 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 4 2. A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT POLICY FRAMEWORK ................. 6 2.1. Designing sustainable products .................................................................. 6 2.2. Empowering consumers and public buyers .................................................... 7 2.3. Circularity in production processes ............................................................................... 8 3. KEY PRODUCT VALUE CHAINS .................................................................................................. 10 3.1. Electronics and ICT ............................................................................................................................. 10 3.2. Batteries and vehicles ........................................................................................................................... 11 3.3. Packaging .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 3.4. Plastics ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.5. Textiles ....................................................................................................................................................................... 13 3.6. -
Sector N: Scrap and Waste Recycling
Industrial Stormwater Fact Sheet Series Sector N: Scrap Recycling and Waste Recycling Facilities U.S. EPA Office of Water EPA-833-F-06-029 February 2021 What is the NPDES stormwater program for industrial activity? Activities, such as material handling and storage, equipment maintenance and cleaning, industrial processing or other operations that occur at industrial facilities are often exposed to stormwater. The runoff from these areas may discharge pollutants directly into nearby waterbodies or indirectly via storm sewer systems, thereby degrading water quality. In 1990, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed permitting regulations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to control stormwater discharges associated with eleven categories of industrial activity. As a result, NPDES permitting authorities, which may be either EPA or a state environmental agency, issue stormwater permits to control runoff from these industrial facilities. What types of industrial facilities are required to obtain permit coverage? This fact sheet specifically discusses stormwater discharges various industries including scrap recycling and waste recycling facilities as defined by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Major Group Code 50 (5093). Facilities and products in this group fall under the following categories, all of which require coverage under an industrial stormwater permit: ◆ Scrap and waste recycling facilities (non-source separated, non-liquid recyclable materials) engaged in processing, reclaiming, and wholesale distribution of scrap and waste materials such as ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, and animal hides. ◆ Waste recycling facilities (liquid recyclable materials) engaged in reclaiming and recycling liquid wastes such as used oil, antifreeze, mineral spirits, and industrial solvents. -
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel Promotes Circular Economy
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel promotes circular economy The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is an obvious tool for promoting The Nordic Swan Ecolabel has a circular approach to the life circular economy - thus strengthening corporate cycle and this particular approach is a premise for circular competitiveness, enhancing corporate resource efficiency economy. Because this means that focus is on how actions and contributing to the creation of new business models and taken in one stage have a positive effect on several stages of innovative solutions. the life cycle. And this means that you avoid moving a nega- tive environmental impact to another stage of the life cycle. The objective of the Nordic Swan Ecolabel is to reduce the overall environmental impact of consumption. This is why the Circular economy does not only mean focus on closed re- whole product life cycle – from raw materials to production, source loops for the individual product system. Joint circular use, disposal and recycling – is included in the assessment resource systems may also be the solution. The Nordic Swan when the requirements for Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products Ecolabel shares this approach; for some products, joint circu- are established. This is primarily done on the basis of the lar resource systems will be more effective and will as such following six parameters: be preferable. Requirements for renewable, recycled There are several ways to stimulate circular economy in the and sustainable raw materials life cycle of the product or service. In general, it is important to focus on an efficient and sustainable use of resources and Strict chemical requirements on safe materials without problematic chemicals, so they can be recycled. -
Improving Plastics Management: Trends, Policy Responses, and the Role of International Co-Operation and Trade
Improving Plastics Management: Trends, policy responses, and the role of international co-operation and trade POLICY PERSPECTIVES OECD ENVIRONMENT POLICY PAPER NO. 12 OECD . 3 This Policy Paper comprises the Background Report prepared by the OECD for the G7 Environment, Energy and Oceans Ministers. It provides an overview of current plastics production and use, the environmental impacts that this is generating and identifies the reasons for currently low plastics recycling rates, as well as what can be done about it. Disclaimers This paper is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and the arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD member countries. This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. For Israel, change is measured between 1997-99 and 2009-11. The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law. Copyright You can copy, download or print OECD content for your own use, and you can include excerpts from OECD publications, databases and multimedia products in your own documents, presentations, blogs, websites and teaching materials, provided that suitable acknowledgment of OECD as source and copyright owner is given. -
Shameek Vats UPCYCLING of HOSPITAL TEXTILES INTO FASHIONABLE GARMENTS Master of Science Thesis
Shameek Vats UPCYCLING OF HOSPITAL TEXTILES INTO FASHIONABLE GARMENTS Master of Science Thesis Examiner: Professor Pertti Nousiainen and university lecturer Marja Rissanen Examiner and topic approved by the Council, Faculty of Engineering Sci- ences on 6 May 2015 i ABSTRACT TAMPERE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Master‘s Degree Programme in Materials Engineering VATS, SHAMEEK: Upcycling of hospital textiles into fashionable garments Master of Science Thesis, 64 pages, 3 Appendix pages July 2015 Major: Polymers and Biomaterials Examiner: Professor Pertti Nousianen and University lecturer Marja Rissanen Keywords: Upcycling, Textiles, Cotton polyester fibres, Viscose fibres, Polymer Fibers, Degradation, Life Cycle Assessment(LCA), Recycling, Cellulose fibres, Waste Hierarchy, Waste Management, Downcycling The commercial textile circulation in Finland works that a company is responsi- ble for supplying and maintenance of the textiles. The major customers include hospitals and restaurants chains. When the textiles are degraded and unsuitable for use, a part of it is acquired by companies, like, TAUKO Designs for further use. The rest part is unfortunately sent to the landfills. We tried to answer some research questions, whether the waste fabrics show the properties good enough to be used to manufacture new garments. If the prop- erties of the waste textiles are not conducive enough to be made into new fab- rics,whether or not other alternatives could be explored. A different view of the thesis also tries to reduce the amount of textile waste in the landfills by explor- ing different methods. This was done by characterizing the waste for different properties. The amount of cellulose polyester fibres was calculated along with breaking force and mass per unit area.