Topic 4.4: Recycling and Disposal
The Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC (WFD) establishes the legal framework for waste management, including food waste. It requires member states to develop waste management plans, promote waste prevention and recycling, and set up appropriate waste infrastructure.
The Directive calls on Member States to:
- reduce food losses at the production and distribution stages
- reduce the amount of food waste generated by households
- encourage food donations
- monitor and evaluate the implementation of EU food waste prevention measures
- take measures to reduce food loss and waste (also include the use of surplus food for other purposes, such as animal feed or compost)
EU member states are encouraged to implement separate collection systems for bio-waste, including food waste. Separate collection facilitates the recovery of organic waste for composting or anaerobic digestion.
The EU follows a waste hierarchy that prioritises waste prevention and reduction over disposal. The hierarchy consists of five levels: prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, other recovery (such as energy recovery), and disposal.
Bio waste
Bio-waste is defined as biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises, and comparable waste from food processing plants. It does not include forestry or agricultural residues, manure, sewage sludge, or other biodegradable waste such as natural textiles, paper or processed wood.
Awareness-raising campaigns and training can help to motivate people to separate and manage their bio-waste sustainably.
EU regulations specify requirements for the treatment of bio-waste, including food waste. This includes promoting the use of environmentally sound treatment methods such as composting and anaerobic digestion.
Case study from Poland school’s canteens
Problem
Even with the best management of the product warehouse, cooking and serving processes, food waste (e.g. peelings and plate scraps) always appears in school canteens.
They could be composted, but public institutions usually do not have conditions for this.
Solution
Sopot schools, where meals are cooked on site, will be equipped by the city government with special machines for composting food waste. Food remains are crushed in it, then specially multiplied microorganisms process such waste into pre-compost. It takes several dozen hours instead of many months. The humus produced in this way is suitable for fertilizing green areas. In Sopot it will be used in school beds and flower beds.
Watch a movie to consolidate rules of safe food transportation and distribution: