Since 1 January 2024, EU member states are required to separately collect bio-waste under the Waste Framework Directive (WFD). However, current collection within the EU27 (plus Norway and the UK) remains at only 5.112.788 tonnes per year, which is less than 26% of the theoretical potential.
The vast majority of bio-waste (garden and food waste), which could be a valuable resource for bio-based industries and bio-production, is currently not being exploited. This represents a missed opportunity for Europe. Valorising bio-waste can not only reduce food waste but also stimulate sustainable growth. This is particularly relevant as the EU prioritises strategic autonomy, competitiveness, circularity and the green transition.
The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), Europe’s leading industry association putting circularity, innovation and sustainability at the heart of the European bioeconomy, in collaboration with Zero Waste Europe (ZWE), has released a second edition of a report identifying the untapped potential of bio-waste in Europe. The report “Bio-waste generation in the EU: current collection levels and future potential” was published today on the BIC website. Compared to the first edition four years ago, which identified a collection rate of 16%, the current improvement is less than 10%.
The report, which includes country factsheets, provides examples of how bio-based industries are contributing to tackling this waste challenge, and highlights best practices in waste management at municipal level.
“The bio-based sector is already valorizing bio-waste in a smart and efficient way. Many of the BIC members are companies that use innovative methods to convert bio-waste into high-value bio-based products,” said BIC Director Dirk Carrez. “More efficient collection of bio-waste will ensure that more of it is utilized in the bio-based industries and in bio-production in particular,” he added.
“It is clear that bio-waste is still not a priority in many parts of the EU, even despite the new separate collection requirement. Given that only 26% of food waste in the EU is collected, it is clear that stronger action is needed. There is now widespread recognition of best practices for the collection and treatment of bio-waste. What is needed is a revision of the EU legislation with legally binding targets for the quality of bio-waste collected and a cap on the amount of residual waste per capita. This would stimulate better collection and treatment of bio-waste in the EU-27,” summarises Jack McQuibban, Head of Local Implementation at ZWE.
Photos: Achim Raschka
Source: Biobased Industries Consortium
