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In this paper, we analyse the changes made to the basic EU directive on waste and assess its impact on the waste legislation of EU members. We then examine the Slovak waste strategies/programs that have implemented the EU directive on waste, namely the Waste Prevention Program, the Waste Management Program, and the Envirostrategy 2030. Based on EU waste legislation, the Environmental Strategy 2030 sets the waste treatment aims for Slovakia until 2030. However, it is questionable whether Slovakia will achieve the set goals. Our research indicates that as of 2021, Slovakia’s rate of waste incineration with energy recovery and landfilling rate of municipal waste are below the EU average, while the recycling rate, both for materials and composting and digestion, is higher. In our quantitative analysis, we examine the progress of waste management performance in Slovakia from 2017 to 2021, focusing on the LAU-1 districts. We estimate composite efficiency indicators using the techniques of Data Envelopment Analysis and Malmquist Indices. In accordance with the hierarchy of waste treatment methods, the applied models consider desirable waste operations variables (recycling and incineration with energy recovery) and undesirable waste operation variables (landfilling). Our results reveal significant variations in efficiency across the LAU-1 districts. The average technical efficiency of the 72 districts has improved from 0.714 in 2017 to 0.852 in 2021, indicating that the performance of districts is generally improving and catching up with the best-performing districts. The total performance, as measured by the Malmquist index, has improved by 45.5 %. Districts with access to waste incineration facilities with energy recovery have exhibited higher efficiency scores, benefitting from this advantage.

In this paper, we analyse the changes made to the basic EU directive on waste and assess its impact on the waste legislation of EU members. We then examine the Slovak waste strategies/programs that have implemented the EU directive on waste, namely the Waste Prevention Program, the Waste Management Program, and the Envirostrategy 2030. Based on EU waste legislation, the Environmental Strategy 2030 sets the waste treatment aims for Slovakia until 2030. However, it is questionable whether Slovakia will achieve the set goals. Our research indicates that as of 2021, Slovakia's rate of waste incineration with energy recovery and landfilling rate of municipal waste are below the EU average, while the recycling rate, both for materials and composting and digestion, is higher. In our quantitative analysis, we examine the progress of waste management performance in Slovakia from 2017 to 2021, focusing on the LAU-1 districts. We estimate composite efficiency indicators using the techniques of Data Envelopment Analysis and Malmquist Indices. In accordance with the hierarchy of waste treatment methods, the applied models consider desirable waste operations variables (recycling and incineration with energy recovery) and undesirable waste operation variables (landfilling). Our results reveal significant variations in efficiency across the LAU-1 districts. The average technical efficiency of the 72 districts has improved from 0.714 in 2017 to 0.852 in 2021, indicating that the performance of districts is generally improving and catching up with the best-performing districts. The total performance, as measured by the Malmquist index, has improved by 45.5 %. Districts with access to waste incineration facilities with energy recovery have exhibited higher efficiency scores, benefitting from this advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to one of the topical global environmental problems of our time connected with the accumulation of production and consumption waste, especially the most toxic and hazardous industrial waste of the 1st and 2nd hazard classes. The author presents an analysis of the dynamics and some changes made in recent years to the waste legislation. Taking into account personal participation, the author considers the results of the review of the state environmental expertise of the project of one of the planned industrial facilities in the country for processing of waste of the 1st and 2nd hazard classes in the Kirov region. Since the plans to locate such facilities affect several Russian regions, the problems reflected in the article may be of interest to ensure the environmental safety of the whole country. Purpose: to analyze the dynamics of changes in the legislation on production and consumption waste, as well as the role of state and public environmental expertise in ensuring the safety of facilities for processing of hazardous industrial waste of the 1st and 2nd hazard classes. Methods: comparison, description, formal and dialectical logic, legal-dogmatic, interpretation of legal norms. Results and conclusions: the paper shows the ecological danger of poor-quality state environmental expertise, especially when considering objects of high industrial danger. The role of public environmental expertise is noted in cases when its results affect the environmental interests of millions of citizens. Based on the provisions of the environmental legislation, the paper substantiates the inadmissibility and danger of implementation without serious development and adjustment of projects of facilities for processing of waste of the 1st and 2nd hazard classes, planned in several regions of the country.

In the waste sector, EU Member States implement EU legislation. They rely on EU Directives and their waste legislation and policies. During the evaluated period (2015–2021), the Slovak Republic amended the Waste Act 79/2015 Coll. and issued strategy papers following EU legislation. France adopted its National program for prevention of waste and Finland its National waste management plan. In our research, we use a method of comparison and analysis of selected legislative documents to examine the achievement of the Green Deal’s objectives in the Slovak Republic and selected EU countries. We have shown the legislative process results through research, which indicate the achievement of set waste management goals. In our future research we will focus on building waste management infrastructure in the EU since it is necessary to apply the idea promoting the support of such waste treatment facilities that will be sustainable throughout their existence.

Various approaches to the implementation of the concept of extended producer responsibility in the European Union are considered, and the features of the introduction and use of the closed-cycle economy in European countries are determined. Some examples of the impact of waste legislation on the production cycle of a product in the European Union are considered, as well as the main obstacles that manufacturers had to face when trying to introduce the extended producer responsibility concept in its current form into production. The key problems of using and implementing the concept under consideration in the economy are highlighted. The interrelation of ESG factors as guidelines for strategic development with the need for the development of mechanisms of extended producer responsibility is shown. The prospects for the development of extended producer responsibility in Russian production are also outlined.

In recent years, complex new bottom ash treatment processes for enhanced metal recovery have been implemented in Switzerland, producing residual bottom ash fractions with various qualities. This study focusses on three different treatment processes by characterizing all arising fractions in detail. Thereby the factors influencing the composition of these fractions are identified and their recycling potential in Switzerland is investigated. However, high legislative requirements on total contents of heavy metals represent a high barrier for bottom ash recycling in Switzerland. Therefore, the recycling potential is further evaluated based on the waste legislation applied in the Netherlands, where recycling of bottom ash has a long tradition. There, threshold values for bottom ash recycling are based on leachate concentrations and not on total contents as in Switzerland. However, Swiss Waste Legislation also knows threshold values based on leachate concentrations for certain waste materials. The leaching tests applied in these two countries, however, are different. The comparison of both leaching tests reveals that the setup and conditions, especially the considered pH range, significantly influence the leaching of heavy metals. With emphasis on problematic pollutants, the possibilities for new applications of these fractions are evaluated based on Swiss and Dutch legal threshold values. The comparison within the legal frameworks of these two countries allows recognizing opportunities and risks related to bottom ash recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of the Indian construction sector is expected to result in a significant demand–supply gap with respect to construction materials such as sand, limestone, and aggregates. Additionally, the vast quantity of unprocessed Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste pose serious problems in some places, particularly in residential, institutional, industrial or commercial construction hotspots. While several waste quantification methodologies have been proposed in the literature, the quantification of waste generation in India is inadequate. This inadequacy can be attributed to the lack of appropriate hierarchical control mechanism, absence of a common C&D waste estimation method, and the lack of C&D waste processing knowledge among generators, collectors, operators, regulators, and the general public. The C&D Waste Management Rules 2016 were introduced to ensure organized collection, storage, transportation, treatment/processing, and disposal of C&D waste in India and fix responsibilities of all stakeholders for management of C&D waste. This comprehensive research attempts to analyze the existing legislation and challenges, and proposes an information framework for organized collection, storage, treatment/processing, and disposal of C&D waste. The C&D waste processing mechanism, potential application of recycled C&D waste products, its limitations, and the best practices of C&D waste management in India are important constituents of the proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Inter-industry utilization of solid residues for soil amendment was investigated by combining desulphurization slag, fly ash, paper mill sludge and lime waste arising within the steel, pulp and paper industries. Manufactured sample analysis included relevant physicochemical properties, easily available plant nutrient concentrations and trace element availability (CH3COOH, NH2OH·HCl, H2O2 +CH3COONH4, HCl+HNO3) with respective pseudo-total concentrations according to USEPA 3051A (HCl+HNO3). Additionally, the relevant regulatory framework is discussed with respect to inter-industry residue utilization as opposed to disposal. Based on the acquired data, the attained soil amendment shows promise in the replacement of commercial liming materials (neutralizing value 38.3% Ca equivalents, d.w.). Additionally, as attested by the sequential extraction procedure and respective pseudo-total concentration determination, the pseudo-total concentrations of regulated trace elements were lower than the Finnish statutory limit values for fertilizers () and the European limit values for awarding the Community eco-label for soil improvers (). Only Ba and V showed potential availability (Ba, 85.4mgkg−1, d.w., by CH3COOH; and V, 54.4mgkg−1, d.w., by NH2OH·HCl) under natural conditions. However, the industrial residues used in the proposed soil amendment are defined as waste in accordance with the . The feasibility of utilizing the material is also influenced by the prerequisites for losing this waste status and for applying product based legislation to the potential product instead. European Union''s waste policy is built on the waste hierarchy which strongly supports recycling and re-use of waste materials, but innovative material and product solutions, such as the proposed soil amendment, may face a challenge under the waste-stream based regulatory regime. Enabling such residue utilization would, from a life-cycle perspective, improve the material efficiency of industrial processes and contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The European Landfill Directive 99/31/EC represents the most influential piece of waste legislation on the management of municipal solid waste. In addition to technical standards regarding the design and location of landfills, it calls for a decrease in the amount of biodegradable waste landfilled. In order to meet the reduction targets set in the Landfill Directive, national solid waste strategies need to be changed. This article outlines the impact of the Landfill Directive on the Croatian waste management strategy and discusses the key challenges of its implementation. In addition, three scenarios of future waste management (mechanical biological pre-treatment, waste-to-energy and landfilling) have been investigated and evaluated regarding environmental impacts and affordability. The results of the analysis show that Croatia has transposed the said Directive into its own legislation in an exemplary way. The developed national waste management strategy foresees the set up of a separate collection of recyclables, waste pre-treatment of MSW, as well as the upgrading of existing disposal sites to sanitary landfills. However, the practical progress of carrying out provisions implemented on paper is lagging behind. Concerning the investigated scenarios the results of the evaluation indicate that mechanical biological pre-treatment in conjunction with separate collection of recyclables appears to be the most feasible option (in terms of economic and ecologic parameters). This result is in line with the proposed national waste management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecotoxicological characterization of waste is part of its assessment as hazardous or non-hazardous according to the European Waste List. For this classification 15 hazard criteria are derived from the Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste. Some of the hazard criteria are based on the content of dangerous substances. The criterion H14 ‘ecotoxic’ lacks of an assessment and testing strategy and no specific threshold values have been defined so far. Based on the recommendations of CEN guideline 14735 (2005), an international round robin test (ring test) was organized by the German Federal Environment Agency in order to define suitable test methods for the biological assessment of waste and waste eluates. A basic test battery, consisting of three aquatic and three terrestrial tests, was compiled. In addition, data were submitted for ten additional tests (five aquatic (including a genotoxicity test) and five terrestrial ones). The tests were performed with three representative waste types: an ash from an incineration plant, a soil containing high concentrations of organic contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and a preserved wood waste. The results of this ring test confirm that a combination of a battery of biological tests and chemical residual analysis is needed for an ecotoxicological characterization of wastes. With small modifications the basic test battery is considered to be well suitable for the hazard and risk assessment of wastes and waste eluates. All results and documents are accessible via a web-based data bank application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU has a clear need to reduce its resource and material consumption to stay within biological and equitable limits. The EU Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industry Policy Action Plan (SCP/SIP AP) published in 2008 is the new platform for development of policies on product eco-design and consumption. This article investigates the policies that could or do constitute drivers for product eco-design for material efficiency through various possible existing or foreseen policies. The scope includes the initiatives of the SCP/SIP AP itself and the various strategies and pieces of legislation that could be seen as part of the SCP legislative tool box, including the resources strategy, products and waste legislation. The underlying question is whether there is a comprehensive and effective sustainable consumption and production policy within the EU, and how far it goes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste generation is a critical factor in global environmental degradation, where SMEs have been historically relevant yet underestimated. This study covers the issue of the disconnection between the normative and SMEs reality. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the relationship between waste management norms and their application in Chilean SMEs. For context, Chile is the nation that generates the most amount of waste per capita in the region. Nevertheless, the country also has one of the most rigorous waste frameworks in the region, by means of the Extended Responsibility Producer (ERP) law, which has been gradually implemented since 2016. Data for the study were collected through in-depth interviews with 25 SMEs. The results show the practical limitations of SMEs in complying with the waste law, the lack of traceability in the waste management system, and the need for economic support and technical assistance to improve the use and management of sustainable raw materials. Therefore, this study contributes to the limited knowledge of how SMEs implement waste management norms and their importance in diminishing waste generation and promoting waste hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altogether more than 4 billion tons of wastes are landfilled in Poland and every year this amount increases by 145 million tons (without taking into account the overburden produced in open-pit mines). This includes 133 million tons of industrial and 12 million tons of municipal solid wastes-MSW). Their amount (mainly MSW) is expected to rise constantly, similarly as in other European countries mainly due to: increasing urbanization, a rising standard of living and, consequently, changing patterns of social behaviour, habits (higher consumption),and changes in the waste composition patterns (more consumer productpackaging). The issue of waste is increasingly topical in Poland, not only because of the increase in the amount, but chiefly because of the lack of an efficient system for its management, and the impact ofwastes and their processing (utilization) on the environment. To improve waste management in Poland, the following tasks are to be completed: (1) to bring waste legislation into compliance with EU standards; (2) to undertake projects involving alternative ways of waste disposal (including recycling technologies that permit processing part of each material introduced to the market); (3) to increase funding of waste management projects; (4) to encourage local authorities to implement principles of sustainable waste management; and (5) to promote principles of rational waste management in the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]