Unlocking successful bio-waste management in Europe: key enablers and progress one year after the EU bio-waste separate collection mandate.

What is the situation of bio-waste management across Europe, one year after the entry into force of the European sorting obligation? Has the mandate had the desired effects? What is the future scenario?

This webinar, hosted by the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, aimed to assess the status of municipal bio-waste separate collection in Europe and to discuss the actions needed to spark a real transformation in bio-waste management across the continent. It explored how policies and economic instruments could foster higher collection rates, improve quality, and ultimately ensure that more organic matter and nutrients are returned to European soils.

About EU Circular Talks

EU Circular Talks is an exchange concept of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. It aims to encourage stakeholders to interact and discuss the circular economy topics in the platform.

Stakeholders initiate the topics themselves. These can take multiple forms of online events; workshops, seminars, debates or Q&As. These are followed by discussions directly via the platform’s communication channels. The #EUCircularTalks uses all the communication channels to inform the community and foster the debate on the circular economy. The results of each EU Circular Talk is summarised and published on the ECESP platform.

Situation of bio-waste management one year after the sorting obligation

• Reflection on the first anniversary of the bio-waste separation obligation, and what to expect in 2025 – DG Environment (TBC)
• The status of bio-waste management in Europe – presentation of the latest BIC/ZWE report – Michele Giavini, Italian Composting Consortium (CIC)
• Q&A

Life BIOBEST policy recommendations and good practices

• LIFE BIOBEST Policy recommendations to optimise the recovery of organic matter and nutrients from municipal bio-waste – Manon Jourdan, Zero Waste Europe (ZWE)
• Successful economic instruments and governance models for efficient municipal biowaste management – Gemma Nohales, ENT Foundation

Illustrations from local players: successful policies and strategies

• Enforcing municipal bio-waste separation through quantitative targets and support to municipalities – Nico Vanaken, OVAM
• Improving bio-waste quantity and quality with economic instruments: the Catalonian landfill tax and refund scheme – Francesc Giro, Waste Agency of Catalonia (ARC)
• Fostering joint actions to promote the uptake of circular organic fertilisers – the experience of the Slovenian BIOEAST HUB – Marco Segovia, Circular Change