Improvement of Biowaste Management in the Baltic States
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The project “Development of guidelines for the municipal management of biowaste in the Baltic States” (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) aims to strengthen the basis for a sustainable circular economy for organic residues. In the region, biowaste accounts for a significant proportion of the generated municipal waste. Currently, only a small proportion of this waste is collected separately and recycled, which makes the implementation of the strict and binding EU requirements for the separate collection of biowaste from 2024 and its utilization from 2025 particularly challenging.
The project focuses on the transfer of knowledge from Germany, as Germany has extensive and long-standing experience in efficient biowaste management. An exchange between German experts and those responsible in the Baltic States is to be promoted through workshops, study trips, field visits and dialogs with municipal representatives. Practice-oriented guidelines will be developed as a basis for solutions for the municipal management of biowaste that take into account the specific conditions in the Baltic States. These measures aim to simplify the implementation of an environmentally friendly circular economy and to exploit economic potential.
Objective
The objective of the project is to sustainably improve biowaste management in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. By developing concrete, practical guidelines and recommendations for action, municipalities are to be enabled to efficiently implement the EU directives on the separate collection and recycling of biowaste. The transfer of knowledge from Germany plays a central role in establishing sustainable circular economy models in the Baltic region and optimizing the recycling of biowaste.
Background
The legal basis for these measures is based on the EU Directive 2008/98 and their extension by Directive 2018/851, which promote the circular economy with clear requirements. The new EU Directive 2018/851 stipulates the separate collection of biowaste from 2024 on and requires its sustainable recycling from 2025 on. While Germany is considered a pioneer in this area, the Baltic States face the challenge of implementing the new directives. The project offers a platform to close this gap through cooperation and innovation.
Project partners: German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, German RETech Partnership e.V., Envero GmbH.
The project is conducted on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protections' program Export Initiative Environmental Protection.