International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

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29/09/09
used for the treatment of organic waste and which produces a stabilised
output free of pathogens, which can be used as -
- a soil fertiliser and conditioner,
- a replacement for fossil fuel in energy production processes, or
- as a feed constituent in food fed to animals.
It seems clear that this is designed, in part, to facilitate inclusion of rendering. If,
therefore, sufficient rendering capacity exists, and in sufficiently dispersed locations,
the capacity requirement might be eased.
51.6 Non-waste Policies
The waste sector is affected by a plethora of regulations and instruments which affect
either all, or part of, a sector which is becoming increasingly heterogeneous. The
move away from a ‘disposal oriented’ society necessarily moves ‘the waste sector’
into a situation where, as the economy moves ‘waste’ materials into more valuable
applications, the products and services so derived effectively compete in market
sectors for these products and services. Hence, the waste sector is now intimately
affected by policies and influences coming through from the commodity markets, and
the energy / fuel markets.
There is also a development in policy, and a parallel development in the economy,
which also affects the physical size of the ‘waste sector’. This is the trend towards the
prevention of waste at source, which is becoming uppermost in the minds of
businesses, as well as in the minds of policy makers. Moves to decouple waste
generation from economic activity are likely to define a new era of waste and
resources policy. Evidence of the deepening of these trends can be found in the latest
version of the Waste Framework Directive, and in the increased significance being
accorded, within OECD countries, to the theme of Sustainable Production and
Consumption.
In this sense, the ‘waste sector’ is in direct competition with the growing trends to:
� dematerialise,
� improve resource efficiency,
� make use of ‘by-products’, and
� to achieve bottom line gains / improvements in reputational utility through
reducing waste generation.
Underpinning both of these ‘increasing overlaps’ is the growing clamour to address
the issue of climate change. Making deep cuts in emissions will not be possible in the
absence of continuing improvement in the management of resources across the
economy, and it seems likely to lead to increased pressure to:
� reduce waste generation in the first place, and
� increase the extent to which that waste which is generated is valorised, and in
ways which contribute to reducing carbon emissions.