Il

Internationa

l Forum

Circular

EconomyPieter Vervinckt

# of inhabitants: 33 million

Surface area: 1.285 million km²

Population density: 25 inhabitants per km²

natural-resource-based exports

Yearly per capita generation of waste: 211 kg

50% of waste not disposed in a safe way

A lot of informal landfils

Recycling rate: 1,9% or 2-6% or 17% ?

# of inhabitants: 7 million

Surface area: 13.522 km²

Population density: 462 inhabitants per km²

natural-resource-based imports

Yearly per capita generation of waste: 490 kg

Almost zero landfil

Recycling rate: 65% (2017)

OVAM = Public Flemish Waste Agency

° Founded 1981

Policy regulator for waste, materials andsoil

Coordinates transition to circular economy‘circular flanders’

Ambitions:

Municipal waste (2017)recycling 44%composting 21%incineration 30%mechanical-biological treatment

2,4%landfill 1,4%%

4th place EU(28)-ranking municipal waste recycling

Almost 40 years

of experience

In less than 30

minutes

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

Action Plan for the Sustainable Management of (Residual) Biomass Streams

2015-2020

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

• Separate collection schemes

• Ban on landfilling of combustible/ recyclabe waste

• Ban on incineration of recyclable waste

• Incineration capacity adjusted according to supply

• Polluter pays principe

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

CRUCIAL ROLE FOR CITIES AND

MUNICIPALITIES

DOOR TO DOOR COLLECTION OR

BRING METHOD

Residual waste (every two

weeks)

Paper & cardboard (every

month)

Plastic bottles, metal

packaging & drink cartons

(every 3 weeks)

Glass (every month)

Bulky waste (twice a

year)

Textiles (four times a

year)

(Biowaste) (every two

weeks)

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

Waste hierarchy

Reduce

Re-use

Recycle

Energy

Incineration

Landfill

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

Polluter paysprincip

le

Prices for residual waste

Minimum rate 0,37 S/ kg

Maximum rate 1,12 S/ kg

• Differentiation in tariffs, depending on

the nature of waste

• Mixed waste more expensive than source-

separated waste

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

RECYCLING PARCS- 90% population < 5 km- Or 1 recycling parc if more

than 10.000 inhabitants- 50% subsidized- 16 obligatory waste streams

CIRCULAR SHOPS- 30 accredited re-use-

centers, 147 circular shops

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

Information and awareness-

raising campaigns,

communication, …

Education programs at

school, challenges and

awards, …

Sensibilisation, clean-up

challenges, …

Strategy &

objectives

Regulatory

instruments

Economic

instruments

Societal

instruments

Stakeholders &

cooperation

World Resources Forum ’19 Closing Loops – Transitions at WorkConclusions to keep in mind

1. circular economy as an enabler for climate policy2. cities are pioneers of change3. soil and land are in need of a supporting framework4. lifestyles have to change radically over the next decade5. the transition to a circular economy needs coordinated

global action

The

is

9%circular

Limits of the recycling economy

Source: ‘De Groene

Zaak’

Almost 40 years of

experience in 40 seconds