Latest ESWET News

10.10.2018

ESWET response to the EC Public Consultation on the Strategy for Long-Term EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions

Background

In March 2018, the European Council and the European Parliament invited the European Commission to present a strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in line with the commitment made in the Paris Agreement to formulate such strategy.

The EU’s current objective is to reduce emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.

In this context, the Commission launched earlier this year a public consultation for stakeholders, companies, and the general public from all sectors of the EU economy and society to include their visions and reflections in the future climate and energy policy.

ESWET response

ESWET welcomes this opportunity to participate in the elaboration process of the strategy and believes that the European Union will be a leading global force for a clean and innovative energy transition.

In particular, ESWET believes that the waste management sector should be fully involved in the transition as it could contribute to important GHG emissions savings by fully switching from a “business-as-usual” approach to waste to a stronger focus on prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery.

ESWET believes that the Future EU climate and energy policy should take into accounts the following points:

-          Developing energy-efficient processes, in particular with the help of R&D;

-          Developing the circular economy;

-          Fostering economic support from both the public and private sector and increasing the price of CO₂ emissions;

-          Making the transition take place on a global scale so as to maintain a level playing field between all actors.

The waste management sector has a number of options to reduce its GHG emissions, such as landfill diversion, the use of CHP and CCU in Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants, etc. Technologies are already available with high mitigation potential and the possibility of a large-scale deployment from now to 2025.

On the other hand, the waste sector still suffers from a financing gap for finalising the transition to a low carbon economy. Direct investment from the public sector, and especially from regional governments, is required.

You can find the full response of ESWET to the public consultation here.

 

04.07.2018

Industry4Europe Joint Paper: “A Governance Structure for an ambitious EU Industrial Strategy”

ESWET co-signed together with other 121 association member of the Industry4Europe coalition the Joint Paper “A Governance Structure for an ambitious EU Industrial Strategy”. The paper proposes a governance structure which enables the implementation of an ambitious EU Industrial Strategy, based on an informed dialogue between the industry, decision-makers at EU, national, regional and local levels and the Civil Society.

Read it here!

 

28.05.2018

Press Release: Single use plastics must be banned!

Single use plastics such as the ones found in cups for beverages, cutlery or straws should be banned if a robust life cycle assessment does not show that they are the best option for the environment. Such plastics are normally not compatible with the circular economy.

This is why ESWET welcomes the publication of the Commission proposal to reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. In particular, once in force, the legislation will contribute to the reduction of plastics which are not suitable for reuse, recycling or recovery.

Read the full press release here.

 

24.05.2018

ESWET Activity Report 2017

ESWET Activity Report for 2017 is out! Read it to discover more about our activities and positions over the past year and to understand how we value your waste.

 

16.01.2018

Press Release - The European Strategy for Plastics: A missed opportunity

ESWET welcomes the adoption of the EU Strategy for Plastics, a proposal that through its multiple applications will improve the life of citizens. However, despite the efforts made by the European Commission in order to boost and improve recycling, the Strategy fails to take into consideration the option of energy recovery.

Find out why here.

 

24.10.2017

For an ambitious EU industrial strategy: going further

Following the publication of the Communication from the European Commission “Investing in a smart, innovative and sustainable Industry: a renewed Industrial Strategy for Europe” ESWET joined other 118 European industrial associations and signed the Joint Reaction Paper: “For an ambitious EU industrial strategy: going further”.

The paper was presented to the Council Industry Working Party on 23rd October and it reaffirms the commitment of the industrial sector to cooperate with the EU institutions to implement a long-term strategy to keep the EU a competitive global industrial player.

Read the full paper here.

 

17.10.2017

ESWET Position Paper: Renewable Energy Directive II

ESWET supports the transition to more renewable Europe. The European Union’s commitment to the Paris Agreement needs to be translated into ambitious targets and practical measures that will help mitigate climate change. However, the transition needs to be executed in a manner that will ensure security of energy supply. Using sustainable biomass is a way to accommodate both goals, and this is where Waste-to-Energy plays an important role.

Please download the full Position Paper here.

 

07.09.2017

ESWET Position Paper: EU Strategy on Plastics

ESWET welcomes the Commission’s initiative to create an EU Strategy on Plastics. From packaging protecting food from rotting (and humans – from food poisoning) to pipes in our homes, plastics have proven their usefulness and versatility. They are light and durable and can be moulded into different shapes. In an ideal world, we would be able to recycle all of these materials infinite number of times. However, a reality check shows that in certain cases energy recovery is a better solution due to several recycling constraints.

Please read the full Position Paper here.