Bevis
Standardisation, Certification & Recycling # 1992 Eindhoven
Europe has accepted that resources should be recycled to avoid waste and is incorporated in European Community stragegy for waste management : - The prevention and reduction of waste arisings at source.
- The increased use of recycling and re-use of materials wherever possible.
- The safe disposal of unavoidable waste.
This strategy relates to European Commission policy on the environment that is based on four principles : - Preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment.
- Contribute towards protecting human health.
- Ensure prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources.
- Polluter pays principle for damage.
as laid out in a comprehensive overview by Matthews (1) of plastics recycling in Rurope.
The Commission has highlighted a number of "Priority Waste Streams" for action. They include Packaging, Halogenated Hydrocarbons, Batteries, Motor Vehicles, Electrical and Electronic, Hospital and Construction Waste. Specified Member States have been given the responsibility of examining particular waste streams, and if deemed appropriate, to propose a draft Directive. For the Construction Waste Stream the German Federal Environmental Ministry in Berlin has been given this task and is only just beginning its work.
*Wolfson Centre for Materials Processing, Brunel University.
