Biowaste Position

22/6/2009

ISWA’s position on the Green Paper on Biowaste Antonis Mavropoulos ISWA STC Chair CEO EPEM SA [email protected]

Global View of SWM http://mavropoulos.blogspot.com/ [email protected]

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About ISWA ( www.iswa.org )

Argentina

Denmark India

Israel

Portugal

Australia

Finland

Italy

Romania

Austria

Bosnia/Herzegovina

France

Japan

Serbia the Netherlands

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada

Iceland

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Latvia

Malaysia

New Zealand

Singapore Turkey

South Korea

Spain

United Kingdom

Nigeria

Sweden

P.R. China

Norway

Switzerland

USA

Contents 1. 2. 3. 4.

Not just waste management Main concepts and experiences Views on the Green Paper Conclusions

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1. Not just waste management Biowaste management should be framed on a broader framework Soil Protection Organic matter Water retention Workability

Climate Change C sequestration Reduction of Ps – Fs

Waste Management

2. Main concepts and experiences • There are proven technologies that deliver results (Composting, AD) • Source separation of organic waste is a proven strategy • Compost from source separated organics is considered as a substantial resource • “Compost Like Output” (CLO) from mixed waste is of very poor standards • Compost markets are mainly local

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Source separation lessons • Similar schemes tend to give same results, everywhere • Schemes may be optimized – Increased captures, quality, cost optimization

• Best performing schemes based on laborintensive strategies (kerbside collection, hand pick-up)

• Less CAP.EX., creation of jobs, more OPEX • Collection at high-rise buildings also POSSIBLE and widely implemented • Frequency of collection shows to be a key aspect and could be improved thanks home composting promotion

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Financial consequences (adapted from R. Cavallo)

A combination of measures is required (adapted from E. Favoino)

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Composting lessons • GIGO effect! • Home composting is part of the solution, especially on a long-term basis • Decentralization and flexibility is a great advantage • Reduction of nuisance may require odor control • There is always a market for quality compost from source separation • There is not a market for CLO (and there will never be?)

Anaerobic digestion lessons • • • • • •

Sensitive to scale economies Capable to handle other waste as well More costly even with energy revenues Crucial: wastewater treatment Link with wastewater sludge Bulky materials not required

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Biowaste and Climate Change (adapted from E. Favoino) • Biowaste emits CO2 – short-term (biogenic) carbon C neutral • Biowaste is “renewable replacement for fossil fuels” • Use of compost replaces fertilizers – avoidance of CO2 and other GHG’s ought to be considered • Use of compost may lock-up carbon in the soil – “sequestration” ought to be considered • AD turns carbon into a substitute fuel (biogas: 100150 m3/ tonne d.m.) – this replaces fossil fuels

According EEA the energy potential of MSW represents almost 7% of global renewable energy potential in 2020

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View 1: Waste prevention • • • • • •

The heart attack metaphor The time arrow Radical Change Vs Direct Relief Home composting Focus on food waste Food industry supply chain

View 2: Further landfill restriction • The long term target must be a complete ban • Short and medium term: gradual reduction according local conditions • Monitoring and review

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View 3: Options for treatment • AD: Energy + Soil Benefits • Composting • LCA tools to be improved in order to include CC and Soil issues

View 4: Energy recovery • Biowaste can deliver energy from a non-stop product of our daily life – thus it is more suitable than energy crops which are in direct competition with food availability • Biowaste source separation removes wet fraction from waste, thus contributes to a higher calorific value of the residual stream – thus it can also improve the performance of new incinerators, although it may reduce the capacity of old ones

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View 5: Promotion of biowaste recycling • Biowaste recycling reflects the only continuously available resource for organic matter – a real tool against desertification in South Europe • Biowaste Directive is a real necessity

View 6: Increase use of compost • Compost from source separation: High Quality – high price, lots of uses • Compost from mixed waste, through Mechanical Separation: Poor quality, “Recycled organics” – very low or no price, limited uses • Support the standards of the 2nd Working Document Biological Treatment of Biowaste

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Conclusions • Biowaste is not just waste management • Cost Effective Source Separation programs are a proven strategy that really delivers results especially in rural and semi-urban areas • Source separation should be successful only if it is in the framework of an integrated concept • AD and composting are well proven, decentralized and flexible technologies that can easily participate in every integrated SWM system

• Advanced Biowaste Management can provide both substantial energy resources and soil improvement materials • There are high opportunities to utilize biowaste with other waste streams • Special emphasis should be given to food waste and to supply chain of food industry • Waste prevention, home composting, extended source separation are the long term solutions, but the immediate relief in big cities can only be a result of waste treatment infrastructure

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Last but not least… • A Biowaste Directive is much more than necessary and less than easy to be applied • As long as EU delays the Biowaste Directive, the relevant infrastructure and investments are under uncertainty and doubts • When if not now? • Where if not in EU?

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