Resources and waste: Data and statistics in the EU
Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union in Luxembourg has launched a new web page containing statistical data on natural resources in the EU.
Environmental Data Centre on Natural Resources
On behalf of the European Commission, the Oeko-Institut collects and analyzes indicators relating to natural resources and processes this information. According to schedule, the project will run until January 2015. The project period may, however, be extended until January 2017. The project partners are the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU) in Heidelberg, Germany, and Eunomia Research and Consulting Ltd in Bristol, UK.
Indicators for a ‘resource efficient Europe’
The relevant indicators that have been identified encompass material consumption, soil, water, climate / energy, economic transformation, biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as other key areas that may give us information as to the development towards a resource efficient Europe. The Environmental Data Centre on Natural Resources is part of the flagship initiative "resource efficient Europe" under the umbrella of the "Europe 2020" strategy. This flagship initiative aims at using resources efficiently, thereby minimizing negative environmental impacts.
It must be noted that the data for the mentioned indicators are not exhaustive and that not all fields of action that are part of the flagship initiative ‘resource efficient Europe’ are covered by this data center.
More data on waste in the EU
In addition, the Oeko-Institut continues its work for the European Commission on the collection of data in the field of waste for up to three years, cooperating with Argus GmbH and the Copenhagen Resource Institute (CRI).
“In recent years, this work has made a significant contribution to illustrating the national disparities in the implementation of the European waste legislation, and in making evident the need for improvements, in particular relating to waste recycling. In the future, the EU-wide enforcement of the definitions for recycling set out in the EU Waste Framework Directive will be of particular significance”, explains Dr. Georg Mehlhart, project manager at the Oeko-Institut.
Since 2008, the Oeko-Institut’s researchers have been assisting the European Commission in improving the data basis in the sector of waste, and in verifying that the objectives regarding waste treatment are respected by the EU Member States. At the same time, the Oeko-Institut highlights how the Member States can improve their waste management in accordance with the homogenous EU-wide policy. Particularly important in this respect are waste prevention, an efficient recycling and environmentally-sound recovery and disposal. The waste data, including data on commercial, industrial and municipal waste, packaging waste, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and electronic waste as well as data on transboundary waste shipments, will be presented on a webpage of the Environmental Data Centre on Waste that has been specifically provided for this purpose, namely
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/waste/introduction/.
More information of the Oeko-Institut:
Info graphics (German language only):
What happens with municipal waste? Landfill, incineration, recycling and composting in Germany, Great Britain, and the EU countries in comparison
Volume and recycling ratio of packaging waste in Germany: Development between 1998 and 2011
Volume and treatment of packaging waste in the EU countries: Development between 1998 and 2011
There’s more than one way to Germany. Transportation of hazardous waste within the EU countries
More information of Eurostat:
Explained statistics on
- waste
- municipal waste
- greenhouse gas emissions from waste disposal
- waste shipment
- secondary material price indicator
- end-of-life vehicles
- packaging
Contact persons at the Oeko-Institut:
Waste:
Dr. Georg Mehlhart
Senior Researcher at the Institut‘s
Infrastructure & Enterprises Division
Oeko-Institut e.V., Darmstadt Office
Phone: +49 (0)6151 8191-153
E-Mail: g.mehlhart@oeko.de
Natural resources:
Dr. Hartmut Stahl
Senior Researcher at the Institut‘s
Infrastructure & Enterprises Division
Oeko-Institut e.V., Darmstadt Office
Phone: +49 (0)6151 8191-180
E-Mail: h.stahl@oeko.de