Reduction of organic waste in residual waste: example Province of Bolzano
About this good practice
In the 1990s, there was no separate collection of the organic fraction in the province of Bolzano. With the introduction of separate collection for this fraction in 1997, a very limited reduction of the organic share in residual waste was seen. There was therefore a need to reduce the high proportion of the organic fraction in residual waste. The solution to this problem was addressed by continuously updating the waste management plans and implementing the measures prescribed therein, which included the organization of a capillary collection system for organic waste and the construction of plants to treat it, financed by the public authority and managed by public and private operators.
The waste management plan includes both the regulatory part and the financial resources for the construction of the infrastructure. The actors involved are the different levels of administration in the Province of Bolzano (municipalities, district communities, provincial administration), the public and private operators of collection facilities and waste management plants, and finally each individual citizen.
The effectiveness of these measures was proven by several residual waste sorting, which took place at six-year intervals. A representative sample of residual waste was taken from each municipality and analyzed for twenty-eight fractions.
Resources needed
Waste management plants financed with taxes by the municipalities, district communities and the Province of Bolzano, who therefore own them. The plants are managed by municipal yards, district environmental services, an in-house company of the Province and some private waste management companies.
Evidence of success
As a result of the measures taken, it has been possible to reduce the amount of organic waste still contained in the waste from 120 kg/inhabitant per year in the early 2000s to 41 kg/inhabitant per year today.
The information from the regularly carried out waste sorting was and is an important tool for waste management planning.
Potential for learning or transfer
To achieve a reduction in the organic content of residual waste, comprehensive residual waste analyses must be carried out on a regular basis. Based on the results, measures should be taken in general or locally in the separate collection of organic waste.
The measures defined must be set out in the waste management plans so that they can become an integral part of waste management. In most cases, the measures are only effective in the medium to long term.
The reduction of the organic content in residual waste is only successful if there is constant awareness among the population of the separate collection of organic and green waste and of the reduction of food waste.
The survey of the compostable content of residual waste was also helpful in the dimensioning of plants for the treatment of organic waste.