European Observatory on municipal waste performances

ACR+ has a keen interest in the collection of quantitative data on waste management at local and regional level in Europe, as well as the links with recycling performance rates. The subject is complex but identifying quantitative recycling targets and best practices incites interest among LRAs, particularly considering the current recycling targets (50% by 2020) set by the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, and the review of the said targets.

In response to the growing need for quantitative data, in 2010, ACR+ launched a European Observatory of municipal waste performances, focusing on the analysis of selective collection performances across different regional/local authorities in Europe.

The ACR+ Observatory’s objective is sharing experiences and demonstrating best practices amongst different cities and regions to help them to:

•    achieve higher selective collection and recycling rates,
•    improve communication with citizens and stakeholders,
•    reduce the negative environmental and financial impacts.

ACR+ Observatory activities

To achieve this objective, ACR+ developed a Waste Data Matrix, completed by approximately 17 members of the Observatory with their data for 2009. This first set of calculation with a harmonized methodology led to interesting comparisons and conclusions summarized in the Observatory Report published in early 2013 (available for ACR+ members only).

All Observatory members agreed to continue this work of data comparison. They also agreed on future work orientations, for instance household/assimilated waste, bulky waste, packaging waste, etc.

ACR+ organises Observatory meetings on a regular basis in order to assess progress, share expertise and define new working areas:

• Launch event (Paris, 16-17 September 2010)
• 1st Observatory working group (Brussels, 1st February 2011)
• 2nd Observatory working group (Brussels, 17-18 April 2012)
• 3rd Observatory working group (Odense, 14 May 2013)
• 4th Observatory working group (Tallinn, 2 December 2013)

The ACR+ Observatory work has also led to a “spin-off” activity: the Regions for Recycling project (R4R), involving a number of ACR+ members, as well as other cities and regions in Europe. The R4R objective is to develop an online tool aiming at helping local and regional authorities to compare their selective collection performances and identify good practices on selective collection and recycling.

Call for participation

Currently, the Observatory is comprised of the following members:
Ile de France, Flemish Region, Catalonia, Barcelona, Milan, Brussels Region, Liège Province, Porto Region, Lisbon, Odense, Besançon, Pamplona, Oeiras, Milton Keynes, Aalborg, Limerick County.

For information about the ACR+ Observatory and the methodology applied, please contact Philippe Micheaux Naudet at pmn@acrplus.org