CIRCULAR ECONOMY STRATEGY FOR LIECHTENSTEIN
Circular Economy Liechtenstein (CEL): Towards a National Stewardship of Resources
10 März 2020
Prepared by
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 A Circular Economy Strategy for Liechtenstein ...... 4 1.1 What is a Circular Economy? ...... 5 1.2 Why Build a Circular Economy?...... 6 1.3 How to Realize a Circular Economy? ...... 8 1.4 Basis for a Circular Economy in Liechtenstein ...... 8 1.5 Strategy to Achieve a Circular Economy in Liechtenstein...... 15 1.5.1 Vision...... 15 1.5.2 Implementation...... 15 1.5.3 List of Objectives and Actions...... 16 1.5.4 Timeline towards Circular Economy Liechtenstein ...... 17 2 Actions Towards Circular Economy Liechtenstein...... 17 2.1 Objective 1: Enhance Government Leadership ...... 17 2.1.1 Action 1: Create an online registry for waste prevention and resource recovery data ...... 17 2.1.2 Action 2: Formulate circular economy policies outlining clear objectives and benefits ...... 17 2.2 Objective 2: Optimise Efficient and Effective Recovery Systems ...... 17 2.2.1 Action 3: Adapt waste programs to enhance producer or service provider responsibility....17 2.2.2 Action 4: Revise legislation to enhance resource recovery rates by each sector...... 18 2.2.3 Action 5: Create guidelines for waste management operators to ensure that the environment is protected while resource recovery is promoted...... 18 2.2.4 Action 6: Restrict new landfills and manage existing sites for inert materials...... 18 2.2.5 Action 7: Phase-out mixed waste incineration...... 18 2.2.6 Action 8: Enhance municipal resource recovery techniques for bio-waste and composting.19 2.2.7 Action 9: Establish promotion and education guidelines to support public participation in resource recovery...... 19 2.3 Objective 3: Reduce Waste and Increase Resource Productivity ...... 20 2.3.1 Action 10: Support flea markets, re-use networks, sharing platforms and repair cafes...... 20 2.3.2 Action 11: Boosting refurbishment of all older buildings and repurposing of structures ...... 20 2.3.3 Action 12: Labelling of new materials by producers to encourage recovery of materials from own products and packaging...... 20 2.3.4 Action 13: Increase recycling of building waste from demolition and construction construction activities ...... 20 2.3.5 Action 14: Scheme for the reuse of excavated soil ...... 21 2.3.6 Action 15: Ban on single-use plastics with incentives for plastic recycling and use of biodegradable packaging...... 21 2.3.7 Action 16: Program to reduce food and organic waste...... 22 2.3.8 Action 17: Resuming biogas based cogeneration...... 22 2.4 Objective 4: Establish Conditions to Support Markets for Recovered Materials ...... 23 2.4.1 Action 18: Establish environmental standards for local recovered materials...... 23 2.4.2 Action 19: Increase sustainable procurement by public and private sectors to build market for recovered materials...... 23 2.4.3 Action 20: Co-branding Circular Economy Liechtenstein with the National Identity and Shopping Land logos...... 24 3 Coordination, Collaboration and Implementation ...... 24 4 Legal frameworks ...... 26
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5 Measurement and Evaluating Success...... 27 6 Contribution to EUSALP Action Plan Goal & Transnational Cooperation...... 27 7 Conclusion ...... 28
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1 A Circular Economy Strategy for Liechtenstein
Scope. A circular economy aims at closing material and resource flow loops - but is also founded on renewable energy, water self-sufficiency and interest in domestic food production. It opens a new economic perspective as it unlocks financial opportunities, industrial innovation and the co-creative strength of Liechtenstein’s communities and businesses. The focus in this particular draft document is on the country’s waste flows.
Context. A CE framework connects aspects of Energy Strategy and Vision, Environmental Protection, National Economy and finds expression in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Above all, a CE strategy both mitigates and adapts to climate change. Climate change is a reality for Liechtenstein, with impacts being experienced as increasingly warm weather across the year - including longer dry spells, erratic rainfalls and decreasing snowfall. The adoption of a Climate Change Action Program incorporating various existing and emerging elements of the national agenda – relevant to climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience - is of paramount importance. A Circular Economy Strategy can serve to meet these obectives by making the country’s economy less emitting, more efficient, more resilient and more prosperous.
In 2007, Liechtenstein introduced a National Climate Protection Strategy to integrate climate protection goals policy into the individual sectoral policies, of energy, environment, transport, agriculture and forestry. Measures were outlined in each with the overall aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through interdisciplinary coordination. Actions by local governments are overseen by framing the environmental policies through the national Environmental Protection Act of 2008, which provides the legal basis for governing the main aspects of environmental protection such as air pollution and waste treatment. In 2012, the National Energy Strategy was released to support the further reduction of emissions via policy and measures in energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy production, and in particular the renovation of older buildings and the generation of biogas from waste. With specific regard to waste management, the Implementation Plan for the Use of Recycled Building Materials in Public Buildings was presented in 2010 to look at ways to increase the use of recycled buildng materials in local construcion. In 2012, the Liechtenstein Waste Management Plan 2012-2070, was outlined describing measures to deal with the disposal of different types of waste generated in the long term. Like the 2010 Plan, the 2012 plan mainly prioritizes action to recycle inert waste materials from the excavation and construction process.
Today Liechtenstein continues to generate more and more waste. In 2016 alone, about 461,069 tonnes were generated in the country1, including 460 kg and 220kg per person for household recyclables and general waste respectively. Since 1974, almost of all of the collected municipal solid waste from households and businesses, and the combustible industrial waste, has been exported for incineration to a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWIP Buchs). The incineration plant now co- generates heat and electricity, where thermal energy supplies a district heating system, helping to replace the use of primary fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Heat from waste combustion is imported.
Besides the recycling of building materals, building re-use, waste-to-energy measures, the strategies and plans described above place little emphasis on the revalorisation or re-use of waste as part of a green circular economy. However, they do present some key components of such an economy, and a good starting basis for the gradual integration of low-carbon circular economy measures, particularly
1 Amt für Umwelt Fürstentum Liechtenstein DRAFT CE STRATEGY FOR LIECHTENSTEIN 22.11.2018 LISD, page 4
since the sectoral approach has already been adopted in these plans. They also recognize that the careful management and use of resources within the country is critical to the reduction of emissions.
Liechtenstein has a very good recycling rate of around 65% (in 2016), and very low emissions from waste locally, largely due to large amount of waste resources being transported to the neighbouring incinerator in Switzerland. However, the 2008 EU Directive on Waste does not consider incineration as part of a circular economy. There is a great potential to reduce the reliance on waste incineration carried out outside of the country and to lower the exported emissions, by re-examining self- sufficient waste management strategies in relation to reducing waste, boosting the recycling of building and excavated materials, composting of bio-waste, development of humus from excavated soils and compost, and resuming biogas-biomass cogeneration, where governments can support this through incentives and legislation, and the private sector can participate through the development of business models in resource recovery and resource efficiency. The phasing-out of mixed-use incineration, while controversial, will be key to a sustainable future.
There are risks to the health of society and its environment when waste as a valuable resource continues to burn in incinerators or gets buried in landfills. Incineration, the least cost-efficient method of solid waste disposal, results in unstable price surges, threats to the supply chain and rising pressure on new raw materials. There is a chance to diminish these risks significantly by transforming Liechtenstein into a circular economy. This calls for a change of thinking from waste management planning to a comprehensive waste reduction, resource recovery and re-use strategy. This paradigm shift will allow Liechtenstein to reduce emissions coming from waste, lower the dependence on new materials, improve environmental safeguards and generate additional economic growth, employment and deliver savings to consumers and residents.
Moving towards a circular economy is an economic imperative and opportunity for Liechtenstein. It can support a more diversified economy, one that is more resilient, achieves positive economic, social and environmental effects, and helps improve the quality of life for its citizens, partners and visitors. With support from the national and local governments, local businesses, organisations and residents can be engaged in expanding resource recovery and productivity across various sectors, for example, in construction, finance, logistics, manufacturing, retailing, farming, forestry, education and R&D. This would support the public and private sector to create jobs, remain competitive and increase value creation via the circular economy.
This document outlines the basis for a Circular Economy (in) Liechtenstein (CEL) Strategy as well as a summary list of measurable objectives and corresponding actions. Following further analysis, discussion and feedback, these will be revised and elaborated in the final strategy report.
1.1 What is a Circular Economy? In conventional waste management processes, materials progress along a linear “make-use-dispose” route where they are first produced from, usually imported, raw resources, utilized and finally sent to landfill or for incineration. This model of consumption has become part of the Liechtenstein culture. Between 1990 and 2016, it has resulted in a 19 per cent increase in waste production overall, and only a numerical lessening of carbon emissions as the result of much of the waste being incinerated across the border in Switzerland.
A circular economy embraces more closed material flow loops but also an increased reliance on local renewable energy, water self-sufficiency and blossoming pride in domestic food production. A circular economy differs from a conventional one in the following ways.
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A circular economy, among other apects, seeks to eliminate waste from recycling processes and across the entire lifecycles of products and packaging. It aims to do this by improving the design of materials, products, and business models.
A circular economy is not just about waste prevention, reduction or recycling. It is about designing products for improved end-of-life recovery and minimizing the use of raw materials and energy through a restorative system. In this economy, the value of products and materials would be conserved for as long as possible. Waste is reduced and resources are held within the economy when a product has reached the end of its life, to be re-used to generate more value. In summary, a circular economy is an economy in which its members aim to: • minimize the use of raw materials; • maximize the useful life of materials and other resources through resource recovery; and • minimize waste generated at the end-of-life of products and packaging.
Resource recovery refers to the extraction of useful materials from products or packaging that have been classified as waste, including through reuse, repurposing, recycling, reintegration and the like.
A circular economy restores the use and life-cycle of materials and products with renewable energy. Waste becomes a valuable and productive resource where its quality re-use or repurposing can be powered by renewable sources of energy. This generates sustainable economic, social and ecological impacts.
Figure 1. The circular flow of systems and services within the Biosphere and Technosphere.
A circular economy comprises systems and services that are shaped by both Biosphere and Technosphere for the sourcing, manufacturing, distributing, using, collecting, repairing, remanufacturing, recovering, recycling, and regenerating of materials, components and products. See Figure 1.
A circular economy includes schemes that ensure upstream decisions in the value chain are coordinated with downstream activities and actors. They connect producers, distributors, consumers and recyclers, link incentives for each of these actors, with an equal distribution of costs and benefits. In its aim to “design out” waste, this economy would help support innovation throughout the whole value chain rather than just waste recycling at the end of value chains.
1.2 Why Build a Circular Economy? For Liechtenstein’s economy to continue to strengthen, it is important that the country moves toward a circular model. This model presents an opportunity to effectively enhance environmental priorities, drive performance, innovation and competitiveness and fuel economic growth and development.
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A circular economy will help Liechtenstein:
• Protect the environment by preventing waste to landfills and for incineration and hence reducing emissions. It recognizes that incineration in particular is an unsustainable method of waste disposal in the long-term despite the production of energy, while landfills do not have infinite capacity. Given the projected population growth and economic trends, it is forecast that Liechtenstein will continue to create more waste if no progress is made in resource recovery and waste reduction. The move towards a circular economy would comply with the 2008 EU Directive on Waste and 2015 revised EU waste targets. It will also help improve Liechtenstein’s standing in its reporting of its Greenhouse Gas Inventory to the United Nations. Better resource recovery will decrease carbon emissions and make sure possibly unsafe materials are appropriately handled.
• Stay competitive. Increasing waste diversion rates and improving resource recovery will help Liechtenstein businesses stay competitive as the global economy becomes more resource productive. Manufacturers will save money by using less material and practice better end-of-life management of products and packaging. Companies can lessen costs and optimise waste diversion by finding the best methods of recovering materials and sending higher quantities of these materials back into the economy. Where domestic markets are underdeveloped, manufacturers and service providers could also benefit from global end-markets in jurisdictions with strong environmental standards to ensure that marketing these materials internationally achieves Liechtenstein’s environmental goals.
• Reduce dependence on imported raw materials. Significant value to the economy can be added by creating and expanding the reuse and remanufacturing sectors. Businesses that collect, process and broker recovered materials and companies that manufacture and distribute products made with recovered materials can profit from growing markets in these areas.
• Save taxpayers’ money, increase employment and raise GDP. The larger the amount of material thrown away, the higher the cost of collecting and managing residential waste, which are mainly funded by municipal taxpayers. Studies have shown that waste diversion programs can create more jobs than waste disposal.
• Drive local innovation. Through incentives such as taxbreaks, local businesses can be motivated to design long lasting, reusable and easily recyclable products, adding significant value to the economy by creating or expanding the reuse and remanufacturing sectors. This will be driven by companies piloting business models that are based on extended product lifecycles. Through product design, they can affect change globally as they collaborate across sectors in the global supply chain.
• Make national and local governance processes more efficient and sustainable through resource recovery and green procurement. Governments around the world are recognising the advantages of a circular economy. For example, China2, Scotland3 and the EU4 have all developed strategies to develop a circular model of production and use that promotes resource recovery and sustainable consumption.
• Enhance and optimise existing waste prevention, reduction and recycling programs. Currently, Liechtenstein experiences very good recycling rates, with increasing amounts of composting accounted for in recent years. This provides a good foundation for transitioning to a circular economy.
2 China Association of Circular Economy. http://en.chinacace.org 3 Scottish Government, Leading the way in circular economy. http://news.gov.scot/news/leading-the-way-in-circular-economy 4 European Commission, Circular Economy Strategy. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm DRAFT CE STRATEGY FOR LIECHTENSTEIN 22.11.2018 LISD, page 7
• Compliance with 2008/98/EC EU Waste Framework Directive and 2015 Circular Economy Package targets. Existing legislation in Liechtenstein does not specifically refer to a circular economy, however, there are laws governing waste, the polluter-pays-principle, sustainable disposal and recycling in general. By gearing towards a circular economy, Liechtenstein provides visible and practice compliance with the EU Directive which represents the most important EU directive in the field of waste management, advocating: prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, other recovery (e.g. energetic), and elimination. The priority is given to material flows and lifecycle of products. The directive also defines minimum recovery rates for reuse and recycling from 2020 onwards.
1.3 How to Realize a Circular Economy? A circular economy requires a change in culture. In this economy, the shift will be in the relationship with the products and services bought and consumed. Producers will be incentivised to produce products for easier repair, reuse, remanufacturing and recycling, which service providers are supported to promote and implement easier, cost-effective means for material recovery from all sectors. To shift to a circular economy, there is a need to change Liechtensteiners’ perception of waste as a worthless material that would have been buried or burnt, to waste as a valuable potentially productive resource. Citizens would need to learn about the influence of the linear economy on their lifestyle choices, and how a circular economy would impact and transform existing ways of living and consuming for the better.
Who are Producers? Producers are brand holders and/or others with a commercial connection to designated products and packaging.
A circular economy demands participation by all actors in society. To achieve this shift, support and cooperation of all partners, including municipalities, producers, waste management service providers and consumers. Liechtensteiners from all corners and sectors of the country have a good history of waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Liechtensteiners have actively promoted resource recovery, whether through municipal recycling and composting services, or local informal initiatives like online sales, flea markets and repair cafes. Collaboration will be a significant part of the circular economy. New methods to maximize the recovery, re-use and recycing of materials will come from the participation across all sectors, confident leadership, all built on already established programs and activities. Education and awareness –raising will be critical to increase participation amongst Liechtensteiners.
A circular economy expects strong leadership. Transitioning to a circular economy will call for confident and consistent government leadership at the national and municipal levels, with respect to changes in policy and legislative frameworks. Particularly at the local level, where municipalities manage nearly all of the waste, those in charge will need to shift their views about waste and existing methods that only focus on end-of-life management to methods that also integrate resource recovery and waste reduction. This requires support of and investment by higher levels of government as well as the academic and R&D sector.
1.4 Basis for a Circular Economy in Liechtenstein There are several key aspects that make Liechtenstein a good candidate for undergoing an economic transformation based on reducing and preventing waste, and for recovering resources and promoting re-use and re-manufacturing.
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Strong recycling ethic In Liechtenstein, recycling programs run by local governments have been highly successful. It has one of the highest collection rates for packaging in the EU. Its highly efficient recycling infrastructure enables the population to dispose of various types waste in their community at collection points. Recyclables include waste such as paper, cardboard, scrap iron, glass, aluminum, cans, tinplate, used oil and edible oil, etc., which are delivered to a community collection. All collection points are supervised which ensure a high quality of waste. The success has meant a high recycling rate of 65% (in 2016) overall. The recyclables collected are finally sent for recycling or sold to companies abroad.
All of these efforts provide a solid basis for transitioning its current economy that is based on waste incineration, recycling and composting to one based on a circular no-waste economy.
High material flows Analysis of existing materials flows reveals a strong potential for a circular economy in Liechtenstein:
Table 1. Approximate materials flows in Liechtenstein.
Material Flow Positives Negatives Incineration. • Energy recovery • Incineration in Buchs, SG, Switzerland Around half of all municipal solid • Potential for repurposing • Most embedded energy is lost waste (www.cewep.eu). • Materials integrity destroyed 220 kg of general household • Slag & ash contain contaminated rubbish per capita (2016) mixed content • Hard to separate • Recycling investment discouraged • Toxic emissions
Fossil fuel combustion. • Revenues for government • CO2 & toxic emissions 13,263 tonnes (2015). • Technical potential for CO2 • Non renewable Liechtenstein is 90% dependent on recovery from points sources • Requires military infrastructure to energy imports from other • Energy for society secure oil reserves countries. Only around 9,8 % of energy can be produced in the country itself.
CO2 emissions. • While CO2 is often not regarded as • Climate change risks
207,700 tonnes CO2-eq. (2015). a material but in practice it is used • Emissions may be more since as an industrial chemical and Liechtenstein does not account for qualifies as a material. emissions from waste that is sent to • Potential for point source re-use be incinerated at the combustion plant, across the border in Buchs/SG, Switzerland. Goods logistics • Large revenues • Traffic noise Transporting 651,000 tonnes (by • Large reverse logistics potential • Land degradation road, 2013) • Potential large materials banking • Large CO2 emissions 1,550,000 tonnes (by rail, 2016) infrastructure • Potential for systematic collection and valorisation of products and material streams to address cross- border leakage. Construction demolition, • Potentially materials asset. • Disposal in landfills excavation & building waste. • Landscape & recreation potential • Large fossil fuel emissions from In 2016, at 414,416 tonnes, it • Re-use potential on sites extraction & transport represented the largest solid waste • Landslides fraction (almost 90% of total • Land use waste). Liechtenstein is landfilling • Costs around a third of its building waste, while the rest is processed into recycled building materials by local companies. Downcycled fast moving • Revenues • Often exported where their ultimate consumer goods (FMCG - Waste • Saves emissions from primary fate is only generally known, or paper, plastics, electronics, extraction incinerated, or downcycled into lower
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plastics, appliances, food waste, • CO2 reuse potential quality products. wood) • Practical products • Efforts are being started to upgrade ~57,023 tonnes (10% of total • Materials banking potential processes but only in early stages. waste, 2016) • Recycling of plastic deemed too Recycling rate of 65% (2016) expensive. 460 kg of recyclable material per • Most vehicles and appliances end up capita (2016) leaving the country for disposal although the steel and aluminium industries abroad. • Still has emissions. Nutrients in wastewater. • Technologies exist to extract e.g. • Dried sewage sludge incinerated phosphate profitably as well as abroad save up to 15% of energy for • Although more investigation is processing wastewater. required it seems most nutrients, • First steps towards phosphorus which end up in municipal recycling in Switzerland have wastewater, are lost to river systems already been made. or incinerated. • Phosperous recovery is technically possible, but there is still no economic way it to be on a large scale. • Liechtenstein is remains observer to its development.
A break-down of waste in Liechtenstein in 2016 in order of magnitude was as follows: (https://www.llv.li/files/as/umweltstatistik-2016-internet.pdf)
Table 2. A break-down of waste in Liechtenstein in 2016.
414,146 t of inert and excavated material 32,600 t of municipal waste 8,268 t incinerated (rubbish including bulky goods) 20 t of special waste from households together 24,347 t separately 17,304 t of 8,848 t of scrap iron recycled recyclables 4,346 t of paper 2,111 t of cardboard 1,149 t of wholly or partially broken glass. 7,043 t of 1,492 t of household green waste compostable waste 5,550 t of landscape green waste 11,602 t of hazardous waste 1,531 t of industrial waste 136 t of butchery waste 11.3 million m3 of wastewater 1,119 t of sewage sludge
Statistical summary for 2016: • 867 kg of municipal waste per inhabitant • 220 kg of municipal waste per inhabitant incinerated (rubbish incl. bulky goods) • 460 kg of recyclables per inhabitant • 187 kg of compostable waste per inhabitant
Shifting trends in waste types Generally municipal waste is increasing in Liechtenstein. There was a drop in the 1990s which is directly linked to the introduction of waste fee stamps in 1993 as part of the polluter-pays policy. This transfers the costs of disposal to the polluter. However, this amount of waste has continued to rise, albeit slightly since, and is currently on track to reach pre-1993 levels and beyond. At present, the negative aspects in Liechtenstein´s waste management can be seen in the continued rise in the amounts of inert materials and excavated materials (largest category of waste), rise of special waste from trade and industry, and increase of wastewater. However more positively, the
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amount of of compostable green waste and overall recycling rate has risen. Also, there has been a steady drop in amount of waste being incinerated, and a drop in the amount of industrial waste, sewage sludge, and the amount of packaging found in the municipal waste to be incinerated.
Move away from dependence on waste incineration There remains an over-reliance on incineration (unsustainable), increasing amounts of building and excavated materials, and dependence on exporting other wastes to be sold for recycling or incineration continues. Incineration has meant minimal focus by local and national governments on recycling bio-waste or the implementation (and postponement) of local biomass or biogas cogeneration for local networks.
Expanding direction in existing waste planning strategies According to the 2012 Liechtenstein Waste Management Plan 2012-2070, priorities are mainly placed in managing and recycling waste material from excavation and construction. For other types of waste, no immediate fields of action for waste planning have been described. This is summarised below:
(Green denotes currently no need for action, red denotes action is required)
Table 3. Challenges in the various disposing different types of waste in Liechtenstein.
Waste Status Challenge Municipal waste Household garbage Currently no need for further action. Garden waste Currently no need for further action. Green waste delivered by Currently no need for further action. municipalities Recyclables Currently no need for further action. Butchery waste Currently no need for further action. Industry waste Currently no need for further action. Sewage and sewage sludge Currently no need for further action. Special waste Currently no need for further action. Radioactive waste Currently no need for further action. Old cars Currently no need for further action. Inert materials Excavated material Ensure long-term disposal: demand assessment, develop new solutions. Nationwide cooperation in landfill planning and management. Construction waste Ensure long-term disposal: demand assessment, develop new solutions. Nationwide cooperation in landfill planning and management. Promote recycling, reduce landfill. Other inert materials Disposal of drilling mud suitable for this purpose Disposal facilities. Chemical waste Ensure long-term disposal: demand assessment, develop new solutions. Nationwide cooperation in landfill planning and management.
There is a sound basis for a circular economy (CE) framework in Liechtenstein in legal terms based on existing waste legislation, which may be amended or adapted, and for the creation of new national and/or municipal CE policy guidelines.
Adaptable existing legislation on waste management The Liechtenstein Environmental Protection Act (29 May 2008) LGBl. 2008 No. 199, is similar to the Swiss Federal Act on Protection of the Environment - which controls, among other topics, ’waste’ and ’contaminated sites’. This law is the legal foundation for all ordinances and regulations. It covers the following central principles: § precautionary principle: All environmental damage is to be limited at the early phases, § polluter-pays-principle: Costs for measures to protect the environment is paid by polluters,
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§ principle of holistic approach: Environmental problems should be recognized and dealt with in an integrated and coherent manner, § cooperation principle: Authorities should cooperate with the economic sectors as much as possible to protect the environment.
In accordance with Art. 39, the Act directs the national government of Liechtentenstein to conduct waste planning with the local authorities. Specifically, the appropriate sites for disposal facilities must be allocated. Waste planning in general must be regularly updated to changing circumstances and the latest technologies or methods. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Act must be adhered to when implementing the waste planning. The Office for the Environment would provide guidelines on the right procedures on waste planning, cooperation and the involvement of stakeholders. This procedural concept RA 2010 / 2580-8802.03 was approved on 16 November 2010.
Additionally, the Liechtenstein Waste Prevention and Disposal Act (1988) demands the separate disposal of different types of waste. The government would require that certain waste be recycled, if such recycling improves the ecological balance. This law is also based on the polluter-pays-principle.
The two Acts above concerns mainly the end-disposal of materials. For a circular economy in Liechtenstein, a new legislative framework is needed to tackle waste prevention, reduction as well as conservation and extension of material life-cycles within the country. This may be guided by rules that target specific producers of products and materials, and specific providers of services that use products and materials. The is a framework based on attributing material responsibility with different consumers and sectors. This also builds on the concept of pollutor-pays-principle, not as a monetary tax but rather through incentives, subsidies or tax-breaks for sectors to support local businesses engaging and investing in circular economy business models.
There is a need for a framework which makes producers and service providers responsible environmentally and financially for recovering resources and reducing waste that are related with their products and packaging. The framework would consider end-of-life materials as resources rather than waste, which will mean the lessening use of raw materials, and the re-integration of re-used or re-purposed goods. This provides new business model opportunities and an incentive for future investment. The framework could set out minimum requirements that businesses have to meet, such as reduction, reuse and recycling targets, service standards and promotion and education requirements. This approach encourages good competition via an open and fair marketplace. The framework can also set out options on how producers and providers can comply, but these should encourage them to look for creative ways to lower material use, design and create reusable products, or manage materials at their end-of life by recycling and reintegrating them into the economy without disposal.
Data on the recovering and reducing activities by businesses and organisations could be collated and fed into a national registry that can help then monitor performance of individual producers or providers, while also help monitor the overall progress of Liechtenstein’s new circular economy.
Guidance from EU Directives on Waste Another good basis for creating a CE in Liechtenstein is the EU Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, which provides guidelines for implementing circular economy strategies. The Directive replaces the former three-stage waste hierarchy (avoid, recycle, eliminate) with a five-step rank (prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, other recovery (e.g. energetic), elimination). This means that priority will be given to special material flows as well as the entire lifecycle of products.
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Figure 2. Waste hierarchy of the EU Waste Directive.
In 2008, the Waste Framework Directive set the target to recycle 50% of municipal waste and 70% of construction and demolition waste by 2020. Complementing this directive are other EU regulations on waste management include the Regulation of Waste Shipments, the Packaging Waste Directive, the Waste Incineration Directive, the Landfill Directive, and the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive.
The 2008 directive encouraged increased efforts to prevent waste through the development of waste management plans and waste prevention programs. Examples of plans are given in Appendix IV of the Directive.
In 2015, the EU adopted a Circular Economy Package, which includes legislative proposals on waste and an EU Action Plan for a circular economy. The Circular Economy Package proposed to amend the waste legislation with the following targets: • recycling of 65% of municipal waste by 2030 • recycling of 75% packaging waste by 2030 • material-specific targets for different packaging materials • landfill reduction target of 10% by 2030.
Adaptable existing strategies on waste management With regards to waste management plans recommended by the EU Directive, waste plans or strategies already developed in Liechtenstein provide good precedents and technical bases for development of a circular economy in the country. Very good statistical data for waste management is already at hand and may be enhanced. The current plans or strategies include:
• Landfill concept of the Principality of Liechtenstein (2005) • Landfill concept ‘Unterland’ (ongoing) • Study on the feasibility of a biogas plant (2006) • Implementation plan for the use of recycled building materials in public buildings (2010) • Utilization possibilities of unpolluted excavated material in Liechtenstein (2010) • Cantonal landfill planning update (2010) • Liechtenstein Waste Management Plan 2012-2070 (2012) • Liechtenstein Energy Strategy 2020
The Energy Strategy 2020 in particular was published by the government of Liechtenstein in 2012 and contains information which is important for waste planning. In particular, there is a measure for using green waste and manure from agriculture for the production of biogas. In 2006, a study on the feasibility for biogas was published which dealt extensively with the possibilities of using organic material in Liechtenstein. The study recommended that the government construct a 10,000 ton- capacity dry fermentation plant via privately-initiated projects for the production of biofuel. It also
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recommended the granting of an appropriate state framework. Despite its relevance to the recovery of green waste, the study has so far not become a successful element of waste planning.
Academic and training institutions to raise awareness There is presently a good basis for educating citizens and raising awareness about waste prevention, reduction, recycling, re-use and resource recovery in Liechtenstein. There are several educational institutions whose curricula may integrate CE concepts within existing courses, or who have frameworks for the development of new training programs related to CE whether in financial, technical or regulatory terms.
New legislative frameworks and policy guidelines may encourage organisations to develop these programs, while producers (businesses in the private sector) may be induced to meet promotion and education standards to engage citizens directly. Education and awareness are essential to changing people’s traditional views about waste, influencing Liechtensteiners’ lifestyle choices and supporting their efforts in resource recovery.
Active community organisations Convenient and accessible community services are also essential to support participation in resource recovery and waste reduction. The municipalities may set more optimised, convenient and accessible waste collection, re-use, recycling and resource recovery opportunities according to the different sectors in their community.
Co-branding opportunities There is good potential for creating a CE brand for Liechtenstein, possibly linked with the already established national identity brand and shopping program. Already operating is the ‘Shopping Land’ program which aims to increase local product sales, this could be co-branded with CE for products that have been re-used or re-purposed or recycled in Liechtenstein. In parallel, the overall National Identity label aims to distinguish and promote Liechtenstein products internally and externally, and has been acting as a useful public education and awareness tool. Liechtenstein faces a great opportunity to use CE to re-enforce and accelerate this brand identity, while encouraging citizen participation.
Logistical strengths Liechtenstein features several established strengths that can help the transition to and sustain a circular economy: • Good geographic location with a high share of transit volume and business relationships. • Good educational capabilities across wide spectrum of CE-relevant topics. • Excellent financial sector with potential for alternative investments.
The potential in Liechtenstein is great for value creation at the scale of: • Material R&D. Re-use and recycling of excavation and construction material. • Systems & Services. Supplier communities, logistics, buildings. • Products. Machinery, food. • Components. Re-using, manufacturing and recycling.
The success of a circular economy in Liechtenstein will however hinge on the phasing out of waste materials being sent to mixed-use incineration plant in Switzerland, as it takes away the focus from implementing CE measures. The phase-out will become inevitable in any event as statistics suggest that the amount of waste material sent to the plant is decreasing, albeit moderately, each year.
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1.5 Strategy to Achieve a Circular Economy in Liechtenstein For Liechtenstein to thrive, it must take advantage of resource recovery and waste reduction as economic drivers and factors in environmental protection. Building on the foundation described in the previous section, the following summarises Liechstenstein’s strategy to achieve its transformation to a circular economy.
This strategy aims for a roadmap for Liechtenstein to close the resource loop and transition to a system where valuable resources are recovered from the waste stream. This approach is a practical and progressive way to ensure the effective use of resources, which is critical to a Liechtenstein where strong environmental protection underlies a sustainable and strong economy.
1.5.1 Vision
The vision for Liechtenstein is for a circular economy based on resource recovery and waste reduction priorities where the focus is on minimising imported raw material use, creating re-usable products, and maintaining the value of materials at their end-of life by recycling, regenerating and reintegrating them into the economy without disposal. In a circular economy, waste is deemed as a valuable and productive resource that can be recovered and reused.
The ultimate goals are to achieve a zero waste and zero greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector.
Calculable interim goals may be set, for example, 30% diversion rate by 2020. However exact figures need to be determined by further analysis of population and sectoral projections for the country.
Zero waste guides actions that work toward the elimination of waste in the long-term. It reprioritises the prevention of waste in the first place, regenerating and recycling the life of products in order to limit the reliance on only the end-of-life disposal solutions.
Zero greenhouse gases from the waste sector guides actions in resource recovery and waste reduction. It will help Liechtenstein meet its climate change commitments and build a low-carbon economy while protecting its natural environment.
Energy from waste will not count within CE Liechtenstein. However, the recovery of nutrients, such as digestate from anaerobic digestion will.
1.5.2 Implementation
A Circular Economy Liechtenstein (CEL) Strategy will call for a coordinated results-oriented working group or committee to lobby the necessary sectoral groups to implement the recommended legal and logistical measures.
It will call for a public relations strategy in order to galvanise the interest of Liechtenstein’s population and authorities, encourage participation and ongoing commitment by governments, and support investments by local businesses (producers and service providers) in CE business models. The existing national identity and shopping brands can achieve even higher distinction through the CEL brand, which would improve sales of Liechtenstein products and services, and inspire national participation. The co-brand is itself a type of quality assurance to build understanding of the circular economy.
The CEL will be overseen by an inter-ministerial committee, which at the early stages may act as a practical promoter and point of contact with municipalities for various actions coordinated across different sectors. The circular economy approach can then be integrated into existing environmental policies. Participation and leadership by the Ministry of the Economy of Liechtenstein via innovation
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clusters at the local level may be a practical means to integrate stakeholders from both the private and public sectors.
1.5.3 List of Objectives and Actions
This draft CEL strategy comprises 4 main objectives. The final CEL strategy will outline in greater detail:
• A Qualitative Objective for a 10-year timeframe. • Recommended Actions for each Objective. • Primary Responsible Stakeholder and Sectoral Responsibility for each action. • Legal Reference/s for each action. • Timeline with milestones to reach targets.
This draft strategy provides a brief introductory paragraph for each action for discussion:
Objective 1: Enhance Government Leadership Ø Action 1: Create an online registry for waste prevention and resource recovery data Ø Action 2: Formulate circular economy policies outlining clear objectives and benefits
Objective 2: Optimise Efficient and Effective Recovery Systems Ø Action 3: Adapt waste programs to enhance producer or service provider responsibility Ø Action 4: Revise legislation to enhance resource recovery rates by each sector Ø Action 5: Create guidelines for waste management operators to ensure that the environment is protected while resource recovery is promoted Ø Action 6: Restrict new landfills and manage existing sites for inert materials Ø Action 7: Phase-out mixed waste incineration Ø Action 8: Enhance municipal resource recovery techniques for bio-waste and composting Ø Action 9: Establish promotion and education guidelines to support public participation in resource recovery
Objective 3: Reduce Waste and Increase Resource Productivity Ø Action 10: Support flea markets, re-use networks and sharing platforms Ø Action 11: Boost refurbishment of all older buildings and repurposing of structures Ø Action 12: Label new materials by producers to encourage the recovery of materials from own products and packaging Ø Action 13: Increase recycling of building waste from demolition and construction construction activities Ø Action 14: Create scheme for the reuse of excavated soil Ø Action 15: Ban single-use plastics with incentives for plastic recycling and use of biodegradable packaging Ø Action 16: Create program to reduce food and organic waste Ø Action 17: Resume biogas based cogeneration
Objective 4: Establish Conditions to Support Markets for Recovered Materials Ø Action 18: Establish environmental standards for local recovered materials Ø Action 19: Increase sustainable procurement by public and private sectors to build market for recovered materials Ø Action 20: Co-brand Circular Economy Liechtenstein with the National Identity and Shopping Land Logos
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1.5.4 Timeline towards Circular Economy Liechtenstein
This section will show the anticipated timeline for each action, and will be drafted in the final CEL strategy report.
2 Actions Towards Circular Economy Liechtenstein
2.1 Objective 1: Enhance Government Leadership
2.1.1 Action 1: Create an online registry for waste prevention and resource recovery data
To provide strong leadership, the government will need to better understand what is needed to build a circular economy in Liechtenstein via the municipalities. Data gathering, analysis and communication is essential. The authority can collect data related to resource recovery and waste reduction activities from municipalities, generators and service providers. The data will help the government make informed policy decisions, and help municipalities and businesses plan their resource recovery efforts. There is also potential to ensure compliance with materials recovery requirements by local businesses and organisations by monitoring the materials recovery and recycling data provided by each of them.
2.1.2 Action 2: Formulate circular economy policies outlining clear objectives and benefits
Policy statements can provide clear direction to support enhanced resource recovery and waste reduction efforts in Liechtenstein. They could guide and coordinate decision-making across private and public sectors, where cooperation is integral to achieving resource recovery and waste reduction outcomes across the production chain. By clearly articulating the objectives and benefits, all stakeholders can work towards a common goal.
Policy statements, not necessarily statutory, can address a whole range of resource recovery and waste reduction issues. For example: • direct relevant stakeholders and sectors to take appropriate actions in reducing and recovering materials • guide the collection, reuse and recycling of materials more effectively • establish criteria and principles to facilitate sustainable packaging 2.2 Objective 2: Optimise Efficient and Effective Recovery Systems
2.2.1 Action 3: Adapt waste programs to enhance producer or service provider responsibility
Existing recycling efforts by municipalities in Liechtenstein have been highly successful so far. Its highly effective recycling infrastructure has enabled the population to recycle various types of waste in their community at stipulated collection points. Recyclables include waste such as paper, cardboard, scrap iron, glass, aluminum, cans, tinplate, used oil and edible oil, etc., which are delivered to the community collection. All collection points are supervised. This has meant optimal collection and a high quality of waste achieved as well as a high recycling rate of over 60%. The recyclables collected in this way are sent to recycling or disposal companies to be sold or delivered. The only negative for communities has been with respects to the opening hours of collection sites.
Notwithstanding the successes, improvements can still be made in tackling the waste that is otherwise being sent away for incineration or landfill. Such programs can be adapted to integrate new resource recovery requirements for manufacturers of products (the producers) and service providers with regards to optimising their resource recovery methods and techniques, providing more detailed
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resource recovery data to a national registry, promoting waste reduction and prevention to residents and consumers, and ensuring environmental protection guidelines are met when undertaking various activities.
2.2.2 Action 4: Revise legislation to enhance resource recovery rates by each sector
Existing regulations in Liechtenstein are no longer adequate to drive waste management within a circular economy. The requirements are currently limited to only source-separated wastes for recycling, and waste-collection of the remainder for incineration. There is potential for much greater diversion and for the re-use of waste usually incinerated or composted outside of the country. This can be done by amending existing legislative frameworks on waste in Liechtenstein, or to create new regulations or policy guidelines. In particular, tailored guidelines targeting specific sectors.
2.2.3 Action 5: Create guidelines for waste management operators to ensure that the environment is protected while resource recovery is promoted
Owners and operators of waste management systems and waste disposal sites provide waste management services to municipalities and businesses. Governments may enhance existing guidelines for these service providers to require or encourage them to raise their environmental protection standards with regards to their waste management methods, which include hauling, storage, processing, recycling, diversion and disposal. This also applies in adapted rules when engaging in new resource recovery techniques, particularly in the handling of plastics (which can enter the water system) and building material (which can have soil and landscape impacts). The government can ensure that resources are being recovered from the waste stream in a consistent and efficient manner and in a way that does not lead to significant negative impacts on the natural environment. It also helps maintain a competitive yet level playing field among these service providers.
2.2.4 Action 6: Restrict new landfills and manage existing sites for inert materials
In a circular economy, sending waste to landfill must be the very last option.
In Liechtenstein, fortunately only a small percentage of products, packaging and other waste is sent to landfill. There have been landfills in the past, located close to the River Rhine in in sandy soils which were not suitable for agriculture, but these ceased to operate in 1974 when the municipalities began sending their waste to the incineration plant in Buchs, Switzerland. Today, there are no managed waste disposal sites in Liechtenstein. There are three landfills which are managed (e.g. sealing, control of water quality), but they operate exclusively for inert materials and therefore do not cause any greenhouse gas emissions.
Given the expected population growth and economic developments, the country´s ability to dispose of waste will become increasingly challenging. It is recommended that strict landfill standards and requirements are set in order to safeguard drinking water by applying groundwater protection limits and design requirements for leachate collection systems. Proposals for new landfills and landfill expansions should be heavily restricted, with those existing subject to rigorous environmental assessment processes.
2.2.5 Action 7: Phase-out mixed waste incineration
It has been suggested that the greatest loss of valuable resources in Europe is a result of incineration, which has been taking way investment from recycling. Overcapacity has effectively skewed markets across the continent, placing pressure on feedstock prices to rise, which has underminded circular economy business models based on material recovery.
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In many countries, mixed waste incineration is presented as energy recovery. About 51 million tones of waste is incinerated annually in Europe representing about 21 percent of total waste disposal.
Although there are no waste incineration plants operating in Liechtenstein, all municipal solid waste from Liechtenstein has been exported to Switzerland for incineration since 1974. All municipalities of Liechtenstein have been members of the waste disposal plant VfA which operates the waste incineration plant (KVA) in Buchs (SG). The VfA provides waste disposal and recycling facilities for member communities. This includes not only rubbish but also bulky goods, industrial waste, household waste, special waste, composting and recycling of organic waste, poisons, paint residues, batteries, medicines etc. The refuse is collected by the weekly refuse collection and is sent to the incineration plant. The slag is deposited in a landfill in Buchserberg. The financing of the disposal is ensured via fee stamps. In general, the disposal of garbage for incineration has been secured in the long term due to the Liechtenstein’s continual membership with the VfA. The result of this is reflected in the 2012 Waste Management Plan 2012-2020 which does not see any need for action in this area of waste planning.
Still, the latest statistics indicate that there has been a gradual reduction of the amount of material being sent to the incineration in recent years. This means that waste combustion will be unsustainable in the long-term. It is thus recommended that Liechtenstein phases out the sending of waste material for incineration in favor of valorizing waste streams as a re-usable commodity.
2.2.6 Action 8: Enhance municipal resource recovery techniques for bio-waste and composting
Green waste which consist of organic waste from households and catering establishments is collected weekly in most communities by a private company and delivered to VfA Buchs (SG) where it is processed into high quality compost. Green (landscape) waste is also accepted by the municipalities directly. For a small fee, residents as well as the public sector in Liechtenstein can hand in their green waste that is created from the maintenance of meadows and forests, and household gardens, which is processed in six municipal composting plants.
Since the beginning of municipal composting in Liechtenstein, the amount accumulated has always been increasing. The steady increase in green waste can be attributed to continual landscaping from new and existing building developments such as the cutting of hedges, trees and lawns. There is therefore great potential for enhancing existing composting measures by also including the green green waste that is otherwise burnt, and to consider its re-use for bio cogeneration locally.
2.2.7 Action 9: Establish promotion and education guidelines to support public participation in resource recovery
Stimulating public engagement in resource recovery and waste reduction is essential to maintaining the effective operation of resource recovery pograms. The Liechtenstein government can look for complementary measures to drive greater public participation in resource recovery, including tools to promote behavioural change, such as standardized waste receptacles. There is scope to adapt existing marketing and educational initiatives to boost the recovery of waste resources according to sector (particularly in housing, offices, industry and government).
Authorities could ensure that producers and service providers, through amendments to existing regulations and plans, give their consumers sufficient information to enable them to properly engage in resource recovery and waste diversion activities. There is potential to establish a registry to post relevant data and information and allow the public to access it as appropriate.
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The service industry may also benefit from knowledge provided by the authorities about available trading markets for waste materials, and the advantage of separating waste for re-use or recycling in reducing the cost for disposal. 2.3 Objective 3: Reduce Waste and Increase Resource Productivity
2.3.1 Action 10: Support flea markets, re-use networks, sharing platforms and repair cafes
Regularly held flea markets play a huge but usually understated role in ensuring that material is re- used and do not enter the waste stream, thereby easing the pressure off municipal waste management systems. Many ‘old’ items are still of practical use, especially those that are well-made, and these have been providing good resources for markets specialising in up-cycling, currently experiencing a growing and sustainable trend, and providing many good jobs and opportunities. Meanwhile, informal online re-use networks consisting of selling, swapping or free-cycle websites are proliferating, which sees the movement of large amounts of goods and materials that do not end up in landfills or incinerators. Sharing platforms such as car sharing and skills bartering, usually conducted through cooperative models are operating successfully, while repair cafes which help to extend the life of items that are usually unnecessarily disposed of are thriving.
All of these initiatives are presently in operation in Liechtenstein and require greater and sustained support by authorities, as their role in waste prevention and reduction is much underestimated.
2.3.2 Action 11: Boosting refurbishment of all older buildings and repurposing of structures
The present Liechtenstein Energy Strategy 2050 lists the continual promotion and support for the refurbishment of old buildings and structures. This is underscored by the municipalities commitment and mandate for energy retrofits based on stipulated standards through their participation in the Energy City (‘Energiestadt’) program. These efforts set a strong foundation for a circular economy which calls for the re-use and re-generation of existing resources, and in this case, of the entire building stock. Research has shown that there are great market and job opportunities in building renovation. However in Liechtenstein, waste material from construction remains very high and the authorities must look at ways to minimise this and to look at ways to increase their recycling in local construction. This is difficult given an environment where demand for recycled building materials has been reportedly very low.
2.3.3 Action 12: Labelling of new materials by producers to encourage recovery of materials from own products and packaging
Liechtenstein can incentivise businesses to label their products in a way that indicates the use of new or re-used materials. This is in order to recover higher volumes of valuable waste resources, avoid materials sent to landfills (and therefore saving the cost from waste disposal), and reduce greenhouse gas combat to fight climate change. This requires innovation in product design and re-manufacture. Raw material use will be minimised, product/brand recognition is strengthened, and resource recovery and recycling processes made more efficient.
The government can consult with local stakeholders on how to determine the best approach to label locally recycled and re-used paper and packaging for example, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
2.3.4 Action 13: Increase recycling of building waste from demolition and construction construction activities
Besides excavated material, the disposal and recycling of demolition and construction waste is one of the greatest challenges for Liechtenstein. To close the material flow of this waste, the Liechtenstein
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government had drawn up an implementation concept in 2010, based on five measures namely: increasing the use of recycled concrete and asphalt produced from construction waste in public buildings and installations, sensitising relevant stakeholders to the topic of recycled building materials, gradually increasing dumping fees, increasing the use of recycled materials in road surfaces, and extending the areas of application for recycled materials. The focus was to close the material loop of construction waste, especially concrete and asphalt, and the use of recycled construction materials.
However, due to very low interest and demand for recycled materials for building construction, this plan has not been followed through since. Potential therefore exists in revisiting and adapting the idea but this time with stronger governmental support and active private investment.
2.3.5 Action 14: Scheme for the reuse of excavated soil
Excavation soil – soil that is not needed on a site after it is excavated – is a valuable resource, and is generated through many economically and socially important activities, such as infrastructure development. It must therefore be managed and moved in ways that protect the health of communities and the environment while promoting its beneficial reuse.
It is uncertain what specific standards apply in Liechtenstein to the movement of excavation soil and when it is deemed as waste. In this case, valuable soil resources in the country are presently considered as waste and sent to landfill. In order to promote the productive reuse of excavation soil, the government can clarify when it can be considered a waste and provide a new approach, including new standards, for the reuse of excavation soil, for humus creation and topsoil restoration.
To support these efforts, the Liechtenstein government can develop an excavation soil plan that provides actions that local authorities can take in the re-generation, re-use and re-integration of excavation soil, with the possible application of compost and humus material produced in the country from green waste.
In 2010, the University of Applied Science, Northwestern Switzerland in Muttenz published a study about the reutilization of excavated material (excavated soil) in Liechtenstein on behalf of the Office of Environmental Protection (Verwertungsmöglichkeiten von unverschmutztem Aushub in Liechtenstein). The study shows different possibilities for reusing excavated material in Liechtenstein and this provides the basis for further studies and implementation.
2.3.6 Action 15: Ban on single-use plastics with incentives for plastic recycling and use of biodegradable packaging
“Switzerland consumes three times as much plastic as other European countries, but recycles 30% less.5” Generally plastic is considered an important energy producer in Switzerland, and for this reason, the collection of household plastic by private waste disposal companies has been prohibited in several central Swiss cantons. As a result, Switzerland has no such plans to cut back on plastic waste, preferring instead to focus on ecologically designed packaging that eases the recovery of quality plastics for reuse.6 Still, many Swiss communities operate or promote the separate collection of all plastic waste. For example, the canton of Thurgau has set up its own collection bag system.
Like Switzerland, Liechtenstein usually exports its plastic waste overseas for sorting, processing and recycling. Currently, mainly PET, milk, shampoo, detergent and other high-quality bottles are recycled. Often, only a part of products can be recycled, the rest usually ending up in a combustion plant.
5 https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/resources_plastic--how-can-the-swiss-use-so-much-and-recycle-so-little-/44059978 6 Ibid. DRAFT CE STRATEGY FOR LIECHTENSTEIN 22.11.2018 LISD, page 21
Demand for the collection and recycling of plastic in Liechtenstein has been great. All Liechtenstein municipalities recommend the collection of plastic. The company Elkuch Josef AG in Eschen for example successfully launched the project "Supersack" in 2015. And also Alex Kaufmann, who operates the recycling center in Balzers, speaks of a large customer need. In Balzers, the plastic can be collected in the collection bag of InnoRecycling in Eschlikon (TG). Around 25 tons of plastic were collected in 2016 alone in the municipality of Balzers. The company Elkuch has already sold over 100,000 super bags in Liechtenstein and the region, with demand rising every year.
There is therefore a huge potential for developing mechanisms to support the collection, recycling and re-manufacture of waste plastics as demand for the material improves, in particular for high quality plastic granulates.
2.3.7 Action 16: Program to reduce food and organic waste
Bio wastes include organic waste generated at home, such as food, leaf and yard waste, as well as food waste produced by food processors, wholesalers, grocery stores and restaurants. When food and organic wastes are sent to landfill, valuable resources are lost that could have been used to sustain healthy soils and to reduce carbon emissions. For example, maximising soil carbon sequestration through the use of compost. Food waste also embodies the resources used in the energy and water used to grow, harvest, process, package, transport and sale of the food.
In Liechtenstein, separately collected food waste of households is delivered to a composting plant in Switzerland. Green waste from landscaping and yard trimings, can be disposed of, with a fee, at municipal composting facilities.
In recent years, several communities in Liechtenstein have experienced a sluggish compost market. Some municipalities have begun to separate wood waste from other green waste and to use this as biomass for energy. This results in a reduced amount of green waste to be composted, but also reduced costs and improved sales. For reasons of high cost, other municipalities have completely done without their own composting and have assigned the recycling of the green waste to private entrepreneurs.
To address these cost and material availability issues, there is potential to develop a plan that focuses on regulatory and non-regulatory actions to prevent food from becoming waste, and to recover food and organic wastes from entering the waste stream. This will call for collaboration of a range of actors, particularly the municipalities, service industry, waste management providers and the general public.
2.3.8 Action 17: Resuming biogas based cogeneration
In Liechtenstein, wastewater deriving from public sewer systems is treated in the Municipal Waste Water Treatment Plant (MWWTP) in Bendern. Generally, wastewater undergoes mechanical treatment, biological treatment, and chemical treatment. The treated water is discharged into the River Rhine.
In order to reduce the load of organically polluted wastewater, particularly in effluent from the food industry which have a high content of organic compounds, and to meet the regulatory standards as well as to reduce discharge fee, the effluent is pre-treated onsite. This pre-treatment includes only a mechanical treatment (separation of solid particles). Effluents are further treated in the centralized MWWTP in Bendern. Two local metal processing companies have toxic waste water which is pre- treated on site by a mechanical and a chemical process; those effluents are then further processed in Bendern as well. Toxic wastewater is disposed of in Switzerland. All industrial waste water is processed in the MWWTP after a pretreatment.
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Sludge for wastewater treatment is stabilized in a digester where biogas is generated. Until 2013 the biogas was used in a co-generation unit to produce heat and power on-site. Since 2014 biogas was upgraded and fed into the natural gas network. The digested sewage sludge is dewatered and dried. Dried sludge is transported to Switzerland and used as an alternative fuel in a cement plant (AZV 2016).
There is great potential to resume biogas cogeneration (being a renewable resource compared to natural gas). This would act as a catalyst for creating new local district heating networks in Liechtenstein, lessening the dependence on heating that is imported from the Buchs incineration plant in Switzerland. 2.4 Objective 4: Establish Conditions to Support Markets for Recovered Materials
2.4.1 Action 18: Establish environmental standards for local recovered materials
For materials to be salvaged and re-introduced into the economy in Liechtenstein, the cost to recycle must be more feasible than the low cost of directing materials to landfill or for incineration. Also, markets for recyclable products must be supported, while local companies should be incentivised to use recovered resources.
Environmental standards can help improve the quality and consistency of recovered secondary materials and support markets for their re-integration into the economy. Standards could be in the form of regulations, guidelines or certification. They will help provide evidence of quality and certainty to the market, thereby influencing the choice of materials captured, their management and their reintegration into the economy. Standards will also help generate healthier competition, and signal good producer and service provider responsibility. In Liechtenstein, the new standards can also help reinforce existing organic farming and shopping labels.
It is important that the most relevant stakeholders are consulted in order to identify the most appropriate type of standards for Liechtenstein, and to ensure they complement existing environmental standards in operation.
2.4.2 Action 19: Increase sustainable procurement by public and private sectors to build market for recovered materials
Liechtenstein national and local governments have strong procurement policies that encourage and support the purchasing of green products and services that do not impact the environment. Several of the leading banks and manufacturers in the country have already implemented sustainable procurement programs as integral components of their business operations.
In shifting to a circular economy, enhanced government leadership in procuring goods and services that make use of recovered resources or include recycled content could help further stimulate markets for recovered materials.
There is potential for more widespread adoption and/or integration of such policies by the remaining public and private sectors who have not yet created their own green procurement scheme. For example, the municipalities, universities and schools in Liechtenstein’s public sector may enhance current or create new programs.
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2.4.3 Action 20: Co-branding Circular Economy Liechtenstein with the National Identity and Shopping Land logos
Liechtenstein is presented with a great opportunity to link the social, economic and environmental values of a circular economy with its existing national brands.
The Principality currently has a logo which it uses to promote “Liechtenstein as a brand,” help sharpen the perception of the country and strengthen its public image. The label helps to distinguish and promote Liechtenstein products locally and abroad. The “ShoppingLand” brand has also been created to promote the creation and sale of locally produced goods. Via the creation of Circular Economy Liechtenstein or CEL as an identifiable logo, there is potential for co-branding with the two existing models. Products sold in the country would not just be made locally but also possess the added qualities of a cradle-to-crade commodity. The co-branding scheme would thus strengthen the existing national identity brands, help raise awareness of the circular economy concept and in turn increase broad participation in the new economy.
3 Coordination, Collaboration and Implementation
Stakeholder feedback is critical in ensuring effective policy direction, appropriate performance measures and a coordinated approach to implementing Circular Economy Liechtenstein (CEL).
The Liechtenstein government should be committed to hearing a variety of opinions about the implementation of actions proposed in this strategy. A path forward must considered and the respected roles and responsibilities of different parties must be clarified in order to achieve success. It will call for extensive consultation and collaboration approach to reach the circular economy goals.
Successful waste reduction and resource recovery can only be achieved when actions are carried out in a coordinated and integrated manner, which address the specific aspects of the different waste generating sectors.
The Liechtenstein government can support municipalities and non-governmental initiatives that contribute to resource recovery and waste reduction. These initiatives are essential to finding market opportunities, endorsing sustainable technologies and finding innovative means to close the resource loop.
Partnerships can help support existing approaches and promote new ways of recovering resources and finding value in materials usually buried in landfills or burnt in incinerators. Some materials, such as textiles and household consumer goods, present good opportunities for consumers, waste managers and non-governmental organizations to reduce the volume of waste managed by municipalities and service providers.
Think-tanks, academics, scientists and environmental organizations can help identify emerging challenges, innovative opportunities and potential areas for collaboration.
Most critical is for the government to lead on chosen priorities while empowering stakeholders with educational and training platforms to innovate on their own. They may for example lead in supporting: • A working committee to start stakeholder task forces and track existing actions. • Waste legislation amendments and policy guideline creation, • Programs in education and training, • Pilot project on upcycling and classifying secondary raw materials via standards/certification
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• National circular economy co-branding, • National materials banking and accounting, • Pilot project on enhancing existing service and logistics providers, • Pilot project on maximising use of recycled building materials in new construction, and • Pilot project on local circular economy supply chains.
The following table lists the relevant stakeholders needed to engage in transitioning to a circular economy.
Table 4. Relevant stakeholders and addressing their needs for a Circular Economy Liechtenstein.
List of stakeholders Needs of stakeholders How needs are addressed
National government Want to set policy and implement CE. - Be guided by the EU Directive on Waste when amending legislation and policies on waste to reflect the CE principles. - Be lobbied by relevant local stakeholders to adopt the CE concept. - Recognise that a CE label will improve the relevance of the concept and make competitive the value of local products, raise public, municipal and business awareness, while protecting the health and environment of the country Local authorities Want to adapt existing waste - Supported in regulatory terms by the national management programs for CE. government How to act as catalyst in bringing - Supported in financial terms by collaboration with together the relevant stakeholders. private enterprises Industry and business Finance Want to know the details of implications - Be informed by think-tanks, R&D and other academic for each type of CE business activity. institutions on CE - Look at best practice precedents Construction and Want to understand the potential. - Also to be informed by relevant organisations as above manufacturing How to find the right partners along the - Supported by legislation and policy frameworks on value chains and to pool enough critical waste volume to develop profitable CE - Look at best practice precedents business models. Architects and How to become part of the planning and - Also be informed by collaborations with academic engineers logistical process. institutions Media How to increase coverage and - Supported by sponsorship and investment by CE relevance. businesses to disseminate information on CE Waste service How to improve and fund existing - Suported by legislation and policy frameworks on provider services, how to integrate (and fund) waste new resource recovery programs, and how to educate locals Academia How to educate different sectors of CE - Encouraged by national programs on promoting and topics, create new training programs in education the public on the CE concept this area, encourage and fund R&D - Supported by national government to adapt existing activities curicula or create new academic or apprenticeship courses on CE - Work with regional institutions on CE to save costs, improve synergies and integrate R&D activities in education and training in CE. Citizens What is it? How do they benefit? How - Be informed by municipalities, waste service providers do they get involved? and academic non-government organisations. - Provided with easier, more effective, more varied (and cheaper) resource recovery opportunities.
In Liechtenstein, the Office for the Environment can act as leader or project manager as part of a working committee to implement CEL, also in conjunction with the Office for the Economy and Office for Statistics. At this higher level, work can take place in amending waste legislation or creating policy guidelines through consultation with relevant stakeholders, tailored according to the different sectors.
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For example, the main stakeholders involved in the recycling of building and demolition waste include the national and local authorities, architects and engineers, recycling companies and buildings’ owners. All parties should be intensively involved in the development of an action plan for the use of recycled concrete amongst other materials.
The next steps for CEL working committee would be to:
• Develop the CEL strategy in greater detail and get feedback from committee members. • Organise consultation with businesses through interviews to get feedback and recruit implementers and initiators to be on stakeholder task force. • Do stakeholder goal-setting and find capable coordinators for quick-win pilot projects. • Identify CE leadership group candidates to motivate government and business. • Start organising a practical stakeholder workshop to coordinate and align with existing activities for different sectors. • Identify and participate in upcoming events that are relevant to the issue. • Generate a compelling narrative based on stakeholder selection of priorities.
4 Legal frameworks
Government leadership with a low-cost enabling platform will be a catalyst for the private sector to capture opportunities offered by a circular economy to create value through innovation and to protect the environment.
Government will be a big potential enabler in Liechtenstein for CE due to its history for creating practical, economic-oriented policies which can align stakeholders from different sectors.
There is a leadership role for either the Office for Environment and the Office for Economy in promoting and supporting the circular economy concept, and with the participation of the private sector, implement key actions as outlined in Section 2 of this report. The government has a a good opportunity to take initiative and begin to outline actions, supported by disseminating clear messages on the benefits of waste reduction and resource recovery through education, training and national co-branding. By using various regulatory and non-regulatory instruments, the government can empower its stakeholders to run the circular economy through innovative pilot projects.
Policy instruments possibly used include: • economic/financial instruments (taxes, fees, subsidies, grants) • information-based instruments (education, training, promotion, online registry/database) • regulatory instruments (legislation, standards, certification)
As described in Section 1.4 ‘A Basis for a Circular Economy in Liechtenstein’, there is a strong legal basis for the integration of CE in existing legislative frameworks, and/or for the creation of new laws or policy guidelines to promote CE development.
The legislation and planning documents currently at work include:
• The Environmental Protection Act (2008) • The Waste Prevention and Disposal Act (1988) • The EU Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC • Landfill concept of Liechtenstein • Use of recycled building materials in public buildings (2010)
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• Utilization possibilities of unpolluted excavated material in Liechtenstein (2010) • Cantonal landfill planning update (2010) • The Liechtenstein Waste Management Plan 2012-2070 (2012)
5 Measurement and Evaluating Success
The success of actions – not just in reducing, reusing and recycling more waste, but also building economic growth through a circular economy – will depend on the country’s ability to gather, assess and measure data. The country needs to know how resources are being used, managed and reintegrated into the economy to set priorities and track performance.
To monitor and evaluate progress on the CEL strategy’s goals of zero waste and zero greenhouse gas emissions, a number of performance measures or indicators can be introduced. These could be integrated into and/or complement the existing sustainable development indicators (Indikatoren Nachhaltige Entwicklung) and environmental indictors (Umweltindikatoren) developed by the national government of Liechtenstein. Every year the Liechtenstein Office for Statistics publishes a report on these indicators with waste recycling rate being one of its major indicators. There is potential to add sub-indicators under waste to monitor the amount of waste being reduced and the different resources being recovered, recycled, re-used, re-sold and/or repurposed depending on the different sectors.
6 Contribution to EUSALP Action Plan Goal & Transnational Cooperation
Liechtenstein is a potential circular economy hotspot due to its strategic location in the Alpine Rhine Valley, situated in the cross-border region between Switzerland, Germany and Austria. CEL presents an opportunity for the country to set ground-breaking precedence for its neighbours to follow, through the implementation of pilot projects on CE locally and through lobbying for cross-border collaboration on common resource recovery strategies.
In the wider geographical context, the Lake Constance Alpine Rhine Region possesses great potential in driving CE in central Europe due to its geopolitical position, diverse industrial output and services. A major strength is the connection of Liechtenstein’s academic and financial organizations with regional institutions, which makes it a strong potential disseminator of circular economy principles.
The CEL Strategy can help connect similar-minded municipalities in the Lake Constance Alpine Region to collaborate on projects related to resource recovery and waste prevention and reduction. Re-use, remanufacture and sharing strategies can be similarly worked upon. Liechtenstein could focus on empowering its government-controlled companies to compete more effectively in the region, and to implement programs to support cross-border supplier communities for secondary (recovered) raw materials.
The Lake Constance Alpine Rhine Region itself deserves a study on its own circular economy potential. There is an opportunity to examine the the value of goods bought and sold in the region as there is still no consolidated information on this aspect. Diverse products certified with renewed life-cycles can be sold and reintegrated into the regional economy, products of which can be created and accounted for in Liechtenstein.
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The degree to which Liechtenstein can leverage and benefit the region will depend heavily on governance approaches as well as the success of selected pilot projects, which integrate activities in Liechtenstein and the region.
However overall, and especially in the EU context, the CEL Strategy acts not just as a practical, logistical strategy but one that raises awareness and promotes the 2008 EU Waste Directive most specifically in the Central Europe area.
7 Conclusion
Effective resource recovery and waste management are critical to a healthy and prosperous future for Liechtenstein. By transitioning to a circular economy, it has the opportunity to lead in a global movement with significant economic, social and environmental benefits.
Making the transition will require a shift in its citizens’ perception about waste. It means changing perspectives, values and habits. A circular economy aims to eradicate waste, not just from manufacturing processes, industries and households, but from everyday lives. A radical reconsideration of traditional end-of-life disposal methods is an extraordinary opportunity.
Together with an adapted and enhanced version of the 2012 Waste Management Plan, the Circular Economy Liechtenstein (CEL) Strategy will guide these changes and guide progress over the long-term, with interim strategies for the next 10 years. It aims to move the country towards achieving the visionary goals of zero waste and zero greenhouse gas emissions, not only from the waste sector.
To put this strategy into action, moreextensive consultation on the proposed actions with relevant stakeholders will be required, including the waste management sector, the national government, the municipalities, the financial industry, large and small businesses, innovators, environmental non- governmental organizations and the farming community. It will call for the examination of best practices from different sectors (public, private, NGO) to help inform the development of state-of- the-art circular economy solutions, such as new processes, products, policies and partnerships.
Further consultations will help inform the final draft of a Circular Economy Liechtenstein Strategy (CEL). For feedback, input and more information please contact
Professor Peter Droege Liechtenstein Institute for Strategic Development AG Josef-Rheinbergerstr. 6 9490 Vaduz Fürstentum Liechtenstein
Email: [email protected]
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