EUROPEAN COMPOST NETWORK
ECN e.V.

Network for Organic Resources and Biological Treatment

ECN E-BULLETIN No. 8_2023

10 august 2023

European Court of Auditors │ Report

European Court of Auditors deems soil standards and targets as unambitious and limited

In a newly published report, the audit agency of the EU assessed whether the Commission and member states made effective use of EU tools for managing agricultural soils and manure sustainably.

The audit covered CAP measures and the actions relevant to manure management undertaken in the implementation of the Nitrates Directive. The report found that EU’s tool ensuring that farmers comply with environmental conditions – “cross-compliance” – has the potential to address threats to soil; still these conditions (which farmers are obliged to meet to receive payments under the CAP) do not go far enough. Evidence shows that actual changes in farming practices are insufficient and only have small effects on soil and manure management.

To access the full report please click here.

European Court of Auditors │ Report

Court of auditors finds circular economy progress in member states not fast enough

According to the European Court of Auditors, in a special report published at the beginning of July, Member States’ progress towards the circular economy is slow despite EU action.

The report shows how EU measures have made little impact on EU countries’ transition to a circular economy, with average circularity rate decreasing in seven of them during the 2015-2021 period. Despite the EU making available significant funding, the European Court of Auditors – ECA – has found that Member States spent most of it on waste management, rather than west prevention and circular design.

Click here to read the complete report at a glance.

European Commission │ Organic production

EU Commission asks for feedback on new authorised products & substances for organic farming

Among the new measures amending and correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165, Bio-waste application in organic production is also addressed.

The call for feedbacks, running until 23 August 2023, proposes new substances that may be used in organic farming as well as modifying certain aspects of products already accepted. In a prior draft of the amended list, bio-waste was considered suitable for organic farming “only if a monitoring system to avoid pesticides residues is in place”. Nonetheless, after ECN’s reaction to the EU Commission calling to remove this requirement, the final draft open for stakeholders’ comments does not include it anymore. In fact, the obligation to comply with this precondition would have possibly excluded compost and digestate from being applied in biological farming, since it would have required a separate collection system for pesticide-free bio-waste, which is unrealistic. Commission’s adoption of the implementing regulation is expected before the end of 2023.

To provide feedbacks to this initiative and look at the proposed revisions, please click here.

European Commission I Sewage Sludge Directive

Evaluation of Sewage Sludge directive finds Member States setting stricter requirements

The EU Commission has published its final evaluation document on the sewage sludge directive covering the whole lifetime of the directive since its adoption in 1986.

The study assesses the directive’s effectiveness, efficiency, coherence with other EU objectives, as well as its added value and relevance. According to its findings, many Member States have gone beyond the limits set out in the Directive, putting stricter requirements in their national legislation and also requirements for sewage sludge treatment such as composting and anaerobic digestion, thereby going beyond what’s required by the directive which is not prescriptive about the type of treatment to be applied.

Interestingly, the document cites sludge competition with bio-waste as one of the hindering factors of sewage sludge use. Also, the lack of harmonised end-of-waste criteria for compost and/or digestate could present a barrier to sewage sludge application.

Here you can find the whole report together with its executive summary.

European Commission │Emission Trading System (ETS) │Deadline: 13/08/2023

Public consultation on implementation rules for including incineration, biomass and biogas into the Emission Trading System

As part of the 'Fit for 55' package, the ETS Directive has been revised to align it with the new EU target set in the European Climate Law to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2030.

Following this revision, the European Commission needs to update several regulatory acts for the implementation of the ETS. This new proposal incorporates rules applying to installations for the incineration of municipal waste as well as to specify rules on biomass and biogas, and on the monitoring of process emissions from carbonates and non-carbonates materials. The initiative updates the rules for monitoring and reporting emissions. The new rules on biomass and the determination of biomass fraction foresee an adjustment of the sustainability criteria for biomass, including biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels for the application of the ETS.

The public consultation is open until 23 August 2023 and can be accessed here.

News from ECN Members

New Study Results I LIPOR

Eight Municipalities increased Bio-waste Recycling by 8 %

Actively participate in recycling and be part of the circular economy! This is the contribution of LIPOR 8 Associated Municipalities citizens.

In the 1st half of 2023, LIPOR received around 32 714 tonnes of materials delivered for multi-material recycling of paper/cardboard, plastic, and glass, from Door-to-Door Selective Collection, the Proximity Collection with conditioned access containers, Ecocontainers and Drop-of Sites, which means a growth of +4% compared to the same period of 2022.

Coming from Selective Collection of Bio-waste and because of the expansion of Door-to-Door Collection and Proximity projects for food waste and green waste flows, LIPOR received 24 662 tonnes in the same period, which represents an increase of 8% compared to 2022.

These results demonstrate the strong investment and commitment of LIPOR and its Associated Municipalities in maximizing and increasing, in quantity and quality, the materials to be sent for Recycling and Organic Valorisation, with citizen involvement having been crucial.

Click here for the full press release!

Announcements

Workshops on biowaste management │ Event announcement

ECN participates in two workshops, organized as part of the EU Life BioBest project

The EU Life BioBest project aims to guide the mainstreaming of best practices in bio-waste management in the EU. As part of this, project partner ZWE is organising two workshops, a webinar on 27 September (10:00 - 11:30) and a hybrid event in Barcelona on 25 October (09:00 - 14:00).

Webinar topic: How to best collect bio-waste in high density areas?

Information and registration for webinar: Link

Hybrid meeting topic: Unlocking Efficiency: Strategies for building a high-performing municipal bio-waste system

Information and registration for live event in Barcelona: Link

Steffen Walk, ECN's Scientific Officer, will participate in both workshops.

ICAW Contests I 1 September - 1 November 2023

Start of the ICAW Poster and Video Contests

Each year, the International Compost Awareness Week Committee offers two contests. One is a poster contest which is open to anyone in the world to enter age 14 or older. The other is a video contest for ages 10 – 13, that too is an international contest. Prizes are given to both winners.

The winning poster design and the video are both used to help promote ICAW and the theme for 2023, which is: COMPOST... Nature’s Climate Champion! The theme was chosen by participating international partners incorporating the collective focus on one of the initiatives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which is “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”. Both contests run from September 1st to November 1st.

Click here for more details!

Specific questions can be sent to: info@compostfoundation.org

Events

ISWA I 4-8 September 2023

Study Tour on Decentralised Bio-Waste Recycling

This 4th international study tour and training course will lead you through multi-dimensional best practices and nearly 35 years of experience in decentralised organic waste recycling.

In B2B meetings and practice-orientated lectures, the entire chain of a well-structured national and local biowaste recycling regime will be covered. As a special highlight, the 8th International Practitioner Day on Composting, Europe’s biggest show of bio-mass and compost processing machines organised by the Compost and Biogas Association Austria, will be visited.

ECN Members will receive tickets at a reduced price!

For more information and to register, click here!

European Land and Soil Alliance (ELSA) I 14-15 September 2023

International Conference und Excursion - Importance of Soil Functions & Climate Change

In Europe and also worldwide, the preservation of soils and soil functions is becoming an increasingly important task and the course must now be set for this at international and national level. The climate function of soils has long been underestimated, and new practical but sustainable options for action are needed. Agriculture must adapt to changing framework conditions and focus more on preserving and improving soil functions. In cities and municipalities, “water-sensitive” urban development with the creation of a blue/green infrastructure, the search for multifunctional areas or the creation of a “sponge city” has become an important objective in future and sustainable urban planning.
The City of Wuppertal is organising the conference in close cooperation with European Land and Soil Alliance and Climate Alliance. The Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection (MUNV) of North Rhine-Westphalia supports the event.

Click here to register and for more information!

Organics Recycling Conference 2023 I Montréal (Canada) I 27-29 September 2023

Towards Victory in Organics Recycling - For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food & Climate Protection

The Compost Council of Canada is organising its 33rd Annual Organics Recacling Conference under the theme 'For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food & Climate Protechtion. Organics recycling is a vital strategy to combat climate change and improve our well-being. Through teh diversion of food scraps, yard trimmings and other organic materials from landfills and into organic recycling programs, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enrich the soil, portect biodiversity and conserve water. The three-day plan involves organics recycling facility tours as well as presentations and time to network, meet exhibitors and capitalize on training opportunities.

Early Bired Conference Deadline: August, 22

For more information: www.compost.org

S.O.S Save Organics in Soil

This international initiative S.O.S. SOIL – Save Organics in Soil, led by the European Compost Network (ECN) and the Italian Composting and Biogas Association (CIC), aims to highlight the importance of soil organic matter to encourage policy makers to develop instruments to move Europe towards implementing sustainable, climate proof soil management practices.

Sign the manifesto 'Save Organigs in Soil' here.