Weekly Newsletter on Circular Waste Management #46-2024

South Africa

·?????? The European Commission has announced a?EUR 40 million investment in the SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa?(SWITCH-2-CE in ESA)?program. It aims to advance circularity in Eastern and Southern African countries as they shift from a linear to a circular economy. It will do so by creating an enabling environment for investment in circular business models and improving access to the necessary skills and finance. It will focus on capacity building, policy support and improved access to finance, and will initially focus on two value chains: Packaging & Plastic Waste; and Electronics & E-Waste. More to read: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/news-and-events/all-news/switch-circular-economy-east-and-southern-africa#:~:text=The%20European%20Commission%20has%20announced%20a%20EUR%2040,shift%20from%20a%20linear%20to%20a%20circular%20economy.

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·?????? World bank group is financing and DBSA is looking for the appointment of an EPC contractor to carry out engineering procurement construction and commissioning of a 50 tons/day biodigester pilot plant at Robinson deep landfill site. More to know: https://www.dbsa.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2021-07/RFP163-2021%20CoJ%20Biomethane%20UJ%20Feasibility%20study.pdf and https://easytenders.co.za/tenders/request-for-proposal-rfp181-2024department-rfp181-2024-165806

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·?????? Plastics SA has recently released the country’s latest polymer production and recycling figures for the year ending December 2023, showcasing a positive upward trend in PVC recycling across the country. According to the new data, South Africa’s total domestic plastic consumption for 2023 reached an impressive 1,983,800 tons, which includes both virgin and recycled materials. Of this figure, PVC constituted 11%, with the majority being used in long-term building and construction?applications. During 2023, South Africa?successfully recycled 26,100 tons of PVC, marking a 16% recycling rate in this sector. This achievement represents a consistent year-on-year increase in recycled PVC, underscoring the effectiveness of focused recycling initiatives and commitment from the Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA). More to read: https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/south-africas-pvc-recycling-reaches-new-heights-in-2023-16-recycling-rate-achieved-2024-11-11

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·?????? About Promotion of the Clothing & Textiles Circular Economy Project: The Promotion of circular economy in the textile and garment sector through the sustainable management of chemicals and waste in Lesotho, Madagascar and South Africa is a five-year project funded by the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) and implemented nationally by the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The aim of the project is to advance the concepts and advantages of a circular economy in the South African textile and garment sector. The project will also support the adoption of international best practices and assist with the implementation of the provisions of the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants with synergistic effects of also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. More to read: https://www.industrialefficiency.co.za/clothingandtextile/

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·?????? Public comment in relation to the proposed amendments to the EPR regulations and notices. More to read: https://sawic.environment.gov.za/documents/18596.pdf

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·?????? Collecting lost shipments on South African shores: ?Sailing conditions have been particularly harsh this winter in South Africa. It's estimated that the huge ships hugging the Indian Ocean coastline have lost no fewer than 200 containers in just 8 weeks! A situation that poses a major environmental risk for hundreds of kilometers of coastline. To speed up the collection of waste that reaches the shore every day Spill Tech has been assisting with clean-up response efforts. More to read: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/seche-environnement_collecting-lost-shipments-on-south-african-activity-7252201652236038144-UPj4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

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France

·?????? A study by ADEME finds the presence of microplastics in all agricultural fertilizers to varying degrees. More to read: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/une-%C3%A9tude-ademe-constate-la-pr%C3%A9sence-de-dans-des-%C3%A0-les-d%C3%A9cheticiens-gee4e/?trackingId=DhHhXQTtz81CSXp8DT05hQ%3D%3D

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·?????? Faced with the worrying decline in the incorporation of recycled plastics (RPM) in finished products despite the financial support of ADEME via the ORPLAST program, the Union of Plastic Regenerators (SRP) published a report calling for immediate action. This decline is mainly due to the absence of regulatory constraints and the availability of low-cost imported virgin polymers, which threaten recent investments in the sector. More to read: https://www.srprecycle.com/post/le-srp-appelle-%C3%A0-des-mesures-pour-soutenir-l-incorporation-de-mpr

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·?????? Pollutec Paris 2024: 3 conferences on employment, decarbonization, waste and resources. More to read: https://www.fnade.org/fr/kiosque-agenda/evenements/6123,Pollutec-Paris-2024-3-conferences-sur-l-emploi-la-decarbonation-le-dechet-ressource

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·?????? The legislator wanted to put an end to the bare blistering of many fruits and vegetables. The Government then adopted an implementing decree in 2021 for which it will have to dress again. Indeed, in 2022, the Council of State censured this text, opening the floodgates to a great unpacking. More to read: https://blog.landot-avocats.net/2024/11/12/peu-emballe-par-le-decret-de-2023-le-conseil-detat-rhabille-de-nouveau-les-fruits-les-legumes-et-le-gouvernement-dalors/

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·?????? Could fashion be forced to slow down? The French Bill trying to combat fast fashion. More to read: https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=328acf58-b4cd-463f-898c-02805586acb4

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·?????? An investigation into the environmental authorisation procedure reformed by the "Green Industry" law. More to read: https://blog.landot-avocats.net/2024/11/14/une-instruction-sur-la-procedure-dautorisation-environnementale-reformee-par-la-loi-industrie-verte/

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?EU & Other countries

·?????? Recycling PET prices are rising as demand for bottled water grows due to recent hurricanes and companies that are working to meet 2025 sustainability commitments. Clear post-consumer pellets and green post-consumer pellets both rose also. ????? Recycled PET prices are expected to hold steady by the end of the year and potentially decrease in early 2025 in USA.?More to read: https://www.plasticsnews.com/video/recycled-pet-prices-rise-due-high-demand-and-sustainability-targets-market-outlook?utm_source=pn-braeking-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20241112&utm_content=idio-headline8

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·?????? Automation & Digitisation to manage Enterprise-level E-waste effectively. More to read: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/automation-digitisation-manage-enterprise-level-e-waste-k2hfc/

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·?????? Tetra Pak chooses paper-based over polymer-based barrier. As climate change and global food systems call for low-carbon renewable materials, the carton packaging industry seeks alternatives to the aluminium foil layer that helps us to keep food safe and available everywhere. Many solutions are based on polymer barriers in the package, but we have chosen paper over plastic. Rather than increasing the carbon footprint of a package, paper allows us to reduce it. Also, when combined with plant-based polymers, the paper-based barrier increases the total renewable content of a carton to 90% – cutting the carbon footprint by one-third. Like all Tetra Pak paperboard, the paper used in our new barrier is sourced from FSC?-certified forests and other controlled sources. The paper-based barrier features an ultra-thin, nanometer metalized coating. More to read: https://www.tetrapak.com/solutions/packaging/packaging-material/paper-based-barrier?utm_campaign=Global_AOPack_PA&utm_medium=SocialPost&utm_source=linkedin&utm_content=Paper-based%20barrier%20&spredfast-trk-id=sf275360212

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·?????? What’s new in packaging policy in USA: The California agency clarified that washable in reference to reusable or refillable packaging means (It can be sufficiently washed if necessary, for it to be safely and hygienically refilled or reused over its entire lifespan while retaining its shape, structure, and function. At a minimum, it must be feasible for the packaging to be washed and reused throughout its entire lifespan without violating any federal, state, or local laws concerning safety or hygiene). Always in California, EPR legislation-SB 54 will require?cutting single-use plastics by 25%, recycling 65% of single-use plastics, and ensuring 100% of single-use packaging and plastic food ware are recyclable or compostable.??California passed a law closing its plastic bag “loophole” (that allowed stores to provide customers with thicker “reusable” plastic bags) and the state is banning single-use plastic grocery bags entirely. The New Jersey state is looking at recyclability Labeling Bill – SB224 and would prevent the sale of certain products labeled as “recyclable,” unless certain recyclability conditions determined by the NJDEP are met.?In Maryland, the EPR Needs Assessment (SB 222) is moving? forward and in Colorado the EPR Implementation is bumping up Producer Registration Deadline and a new deadline of October 1, 2024 for producers to register is set. The deadline registration was previously set for July 1, 2025.?Earlier registration helps reduce the amount of free riders or producers who benefit from EPR systems without contributing their share of the costs. Plus, after July 1, 2025, obligated producers who don’t participate in the program are prohibited from selling products in Colorado. More to read: https://sustainablepackaging.org/2024/10/28/packaging-policy-news/#october-packaging-policy-roundup ?

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·?????? This comprehensive report by the Alliance, in collaboration with Roland Berger, offers insights into various policies and levers that countries can adopt to enhance recycling rates, strengthen waste management systems, and progress towards an improved circularity for plastics. More to read: https://www.endplasticwaste.org/insights/report/plastic-waste-management-framework

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·?????? There is a lot of discussion about EPR being one of the key for a successful global plastic treaty. There is an issue on the cost coverage. EPR should definitely be a finance mechanism that the GPT should consider and its power to mobilise resources is undeniable. However, it is paramount that EPR, waste management and resource policies are designed to deliver on the overall goals of reducing pollution and waste generation. Otherwise EPR risks becoming a greenwashing tool. More to read: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/joan-marc-simon_navigating-plastic-pollution-financing-challenges-activity-7262739809599729664-71fc/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

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·?????? DIGITALEUROPE members are leading innovation in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). However, the rising environmental challenges related to the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) demand modern solutions that can keep up with technological advancements. This paper provides key recommendations for revising the WEEE Directive,1?ensuring it remains fit for purpose in supporting sustainability goals whilst addressing practical industry realities. Our key recommendations are to: (i) Shift to a collection target based on WEEE available for collection: The current 65 per cent target, based on EEE placed on the market (POM) over the previous three years, does not account for the longer lifecycles of modern EEE products, nor the second-hand market. We recommend moving towards a target that better reflects actual WEEE generation, leveraging the WEEE calculation tool already developed by the Commission. This tool should be further refined to consider product lifespans, unofficial collections and legal exports for reuse. (ii) Oblige all actors to report on WEEE collection: The ‘all actors’ principle is crucial for ensuring transparency and accountability across the entire WEEE management chain. All entities involved in handling WEEE – producers, recyclers, refurbishers and others – must be legally required to report the volumes they manage, preventing unofficial streams from escaping proper recycling and recovery systems; (iii) Set minimum logistics and treatment standards: Harmonised standards for WEEE collection, transportation and treatment, aligned with CENELEC guidelines, are essential to ensure high-quality recycling and a reduction in dependency on virgin raw materials. This would also enhance the recovery of secondary raw materials, critical for the EU’s circular economy; (iv) Re-examine WEEE categories for greater precision: Current WEEE categories do not adequately reflect the diverse lifespans and technical characteristics of various EEE types. More granular categories, particularly within large equipment, will enable tailored collection targets and more efficient waste management, (v) Streamline reporting requirements: Reporting obligations should be harmonised across the EU to eliminate unnecessary burdens on producers and enhance the comparability of data. A standardised WEEE reporting template would reduce administrative complexity and improve data quality, (vi) prohibit WEEE fee eco-modulation and visibility: National schemes that introduce WEEE fee eco-modulation lack harmonisation and create market distortions. Such practices should be prohibited as should the visibility of WEEE fees for ICT products, which adds unnecessary administrative burden without demonstrable environmental benefits, (vii) Maintain open scope but careful product allocation: The current ‘open scope’ should be maintained, ensuring that innovative products are carefully assigned to existing or new EEE categories without expanding the scope unnecessarily, (viii) Avoid new product design requirements: The revision should not introduce additional product design requirements, which are already covered by the current and future ecodesign regulations. More to read: https://www.digitaleurope.org/resources/realigning-targets-and-practices-for-effective-e-waste-management/

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·?????? Do We Need a New LCA for Polyester? More to read: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/do-we-need-new-lca-polyester-dr-ashley-holding-yh2fe/

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·?????? Assessing Climate Impact: Reusable systems vs. Single-Use Takeaway Packaging. This report presents the results of study designed to evaluate the climate change impacts of reusable packaging as part of a reuse system, in comparison with single-use packaging. The findings highlight key aspects of reuse system design that are important to optimise when implementing such a system. More to read: https://www.reloopplatform.org/resources/assessing-impact-reusable-vs-single-use-takeaway-packaging/

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·?????? Circular Packaging for Direct Food Contact Applications. The EU project Circular Foodpack?invites you to attend its final event “Circular Packaging for Direct Food Contact Applications” where it will present its key findings and results. Over the last 3 and a half years, the CIRCULAR FoodPack consortium has worked on?circular design for flexible packaging. It has demonstrated the various steps required to obtain post-consumer recyclates and shown how to integrate them into new packaging which meets the high standards for food protection and safety. More to read: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/news-and-events/all-events/circular-packaging-direct-food-contact-applications

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