Water & Waste | Other
Municipal waste regulation in Europe : paving the road for upcoming challenges
21 December 2021

Authors: SALVETTI, Maria

Defined as waste from household and “from other sources, such as retail, administration, education, health services, accommodation and food services, and other services and activities, which is similar in nature and composition”, municipal solid waste (MSW) only represents 10% of the total waste generated in the European Union (EU) (Eurostat, 2016). Nevertheless it is a highly political topic as local authorities are in charge of its collection and management, either directly or through an operator (public or private) and a financial sensitive issue as it requires large public investments. It is also a complex matter due to its dispersed generation (60% to 90% of total MSW comes from households, and the rest from commercial activities), to its diverse composition (which includes organic, plastic, metal, paper, glass, bulky items, batteries, exhaust oils/lubricants, light bulbs, etc.), and to the link it has with consumption behaviors and trends (coupling of economic growth and waste generation). MSW management is also crucial due its potential adverse effects on the environment and the human health.
logo cadmus Read it on Cadmus Download in open access

LATEST FSR PUBLICATIONS

Working Paper
EU digital regulation has created barriers to competitiveness in transport and beyond. It has created complexity, a high compliance burden and cost, fragmentation, legal uncertainty and unbalanced interpretations, damaging the [...]
Policy Brief
The European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is the world's largest carbon market and a cornerstone of the EU's strategy to combat climate change. It is a primary tool [...]

Join our community

To meet, discuss and learn in the channel that suits you best.

scroll

top