RECO Baltic 21 Tech - Towards Sustainable Waste Management in the Baltic Sea Region

Background

Waste management is a matter of central concern to Baltic Sea countries, where significant disparities are seen: whereas in Germany or Sweden around 3 % of the household waste goes to disposal, this fi gure in Poland is over 90 %. Insufficient transnational actions in the field of waste management clearly hamper the development of this area in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).

The “Reco Baltic 21 Tech” (RB21T) is partly funded by the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 and is running from October 2010 to December 2013. It aims at addressing this problem by fostering sustainable waste management (WM) in the Baltic Sea Region. The project aims at strengthening the capacity of Baltic Sea countries to climb the waste hierarchy and meet the various EU directives. RB21T is also expected to create innovative business opportunities in the Clean-Tech industry. Operationally, RB21T will establish a transnational and cross-sectorial platform for expertise exchange in waste management in the Baltic Sea Region, which will increase its competitiveness. RB21T will directly target and assist 30 decision makers on the local/regional and national level about to realize a waste management investment, drawing on the latest research and Best Available Technologies (BAT).

Objectives of the project

The overall objective of the project is to improve the local and regional capacity to apply the process of implementing waste management that support the implementation of the EU Waste Management Directive, helping countries in the Baltic Sea Region to address their problems with waste management and disposal. The subobjectives of the project are:

Institutionalising the project results:

To put into practice systematic approaches to waste management developed in the RB21T project (the network, Waste Management Planning System (WAMPS), guidelines and handbooks).
To provide a platform across the Baltic Sea Region that enables cooperation in waste management through close collaboration of expert organisations, suppliers of waste technology and stakeholders.
To elaborate a strategy (BSR level) and investment model that defi nes necessary actions ensuring organisational learning within and between authorities to continue to develop WM and lower the transaction costs.

Exchange of good practice and Best Available Technologies

To jointly select and build pilot projects based on good practices.
To develop at least two concrete investment projects per country, disseminate them at the Baltic Sea Region level and attract external funds for these pilots of €20 million.
To give project partners opportunities to put into perspective their waste management needs, via the identification and exchange of good practice, to consider waste as an asset for innovations, business opportunities and employment.
To improve the capacity to overcome difficulties faced when selecting suitable waste management methods and techniques

Summer Course on Sustainability and Waste Management

11 - 15 September 2012, Goerlitz, Germany

The Summer Course is organized by the German offices of the Baltic University Programme in Hamburg and Zittau. The course will take place on 11-15 September 2012 in Goerlitz, Germany.

Students from all subjects registered at universities of the Baltic Sea Region and beyond are welcome to attend the summer course.

Details on the programme of the Summer Course as well as the registration can be seen at: ag-umwelt.hszg.de.
Please note that registration is necessary and that the number of participants is limited.

Baltic Waste Management Seminar in Copenhagen a success

The Baltic Waste Management Seminar, held in Copenhagen on 7th May 2012 was a great success. The event was organised as part of the project RECO Baltic 21 Tech and was attended by specialists from Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Estonia and Sweden, representing companies, associations and municipalities. It was hosted by the Danish Waste Managament Association (DAKOFA).

'Reco Baltic 21 Tech' was approved as 'Baltic 21 Lighthouse Project' status

“Reco Baltic 21 Tech” (RB21T) is a flagship project under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea region and has been awarded the Baltic 21 Lighthouse Project quality label by the CBSS (The Council of the Baltic Sea States) Expert Group on Sustainable Development – Baltic21.

Improving European recycling rates

30 March 2012, Hamburg

Official figures showed that 25 billion glass bottles and jars were collected for recycling in the EU in 2010, the latest year for available data. That meant glass recycling rates held steady at around 68 percent, according to the European Container Glass Federation. But recycling figures for other waste are much lower. A journalist interviewed participants at the RECO Baltic 21 Tech seminar "Innovative approaches towards waste management in the Baltic Sea region" aiming to change this.

Baltic Waste Management Seminar 2012

Monday, 07 May 2012, Copenhagen, Denmark

Promoting green growth will be a priority for the Danish government during its six-month presidency of the EU. But other environmental issues, including rules on genetically modified (GM) crops, will also be tackled. The project RECO Baltic 21 Tech is running a workshop on waste management in the Baltic, to be held in Copenhagen on 07 May 2012.

RB21T is looking for a consultant

Find more information in the attached "Open Call for Tender"

Innovative approaches towards waste management in the Baltic Sea region

23 March 2012, Hamburg, Germany

An activity in celebration of the German Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)

Waste management is one of the key areas in cities and regions across the Baltic Sea. There are many innovative approaches to prevent, recycle and re-use waste, but these are seldom discussed in a transnational way. This seminar organized by the Baltic Sea Region Programme project “RECO Baltic 21 Tech” will provide a good opportunity to showcase projects, approaches and methods in waste management in the Baltic Sea Region. The event is organized as a parallel activity in celebration of the German Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS).

Waste Management Planning system (WAMPS)

WAMPS- a software tool for waste management planning

As part of the Reco Baltic 21 Tech project, the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, has developed a software application called WAMPS (waste management planning system). The application enables users to carry out calculations via a Web interface in order to compare the environmental performance of different types of waste management systems. This is based on a life-cycle assessment (LCA).