EC study calls for harmonised waste data reporting

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has proposed a comprehensive framework for harmonising waste data reporting across the EU, aiming to address current inconsistencies and data gaps in the sector.

In a recent report, the JRC outlines a series of measures to improve the collection, reporting, and monitoring of waste data. These include implementing national Electronic Registries for Waste, conducting regular waste composition analyses, expanding reporting obligations to include sorting data, reporting on waste management practices, and establishing an EU-level monitoring system with specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

These recommendations come in response to the challenges faced in tracking progress towards EU circular economy targets due to inconsistent data reporting methods across Member States.

The JRC's proposals come against the backdrop of the EU's ambitious circular economy goals and the need for more accurate data to track progress. The Waste Framework Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive lay down recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging waste, respectively. Member States are required to demonstrate compliance with these targets through reliable data reporting. The proposed framework aims to address the current challenges in data quality and comparability.

National Electronic Registry for Waste

Central to the JRC's proposal is the establishment of national Electronic Registries for Waste (ERW) to enhance data transparency and traceability. These registries would serve as comprehensive digital platforms for collecting, managing, and sharing waste-related data at a national level.

The suggested ERW includes detailed information on waste generation, collection, treatment, and disposal across various waste streams. Data would be inputted by waste operators, municipalities, and other relevant parties, creating a centralised source of information. Doing this ‘can enhance transparency along the waste value chain and can support national authorities in identifying areas for improvement.’

While 22 Member States currently use some form of electronic registry, the JRC's proposal aims to standardise these systems across the EU, ensuring compatibility and comparability of data between countries.

The implementation of ERWs could streamline reporting processes, reduce administrative burdens, and provide a more accurate and up-to-date picture of waste management activities across the EU. This enhanced data availability could support more informed decision-making and policy development at both national and EU levels.

Standardised Waste Composition Analyses

To improve data accuracy and comparability, the JRC recommends conducting waste composition analyses for municipal waste, food waste, and packaging waste every six years. The report suggests ‘regular waste composition analysis can serve as a tool to monitor the effects of policy measures on the local waste management system.’

This standardised approach would include two analyses within the reference year to account for seasonal variations. The proposal aims to create a consistent methodology across Member States, enabling better comparison and tracking of waste composition trends over time.

Enhanced Reporting Requirements

The JRC proposes complementing current obligations with additional datasets on the input and output of sorting processes, to reflect the level of contamination present in each stage. This would provide an indication on ‘the level of rejects in the sorting phase and [give] and an additional indication of the performance of the collection system.’

There is now a need to shift from voluntary to mandatory reporting, specifically focusing on collection schemes and commingling rules to address inconsistencies across the EU. Currently, some Member States report this information partially or not at all.

This change is identified because collection schemes and commingling rules significantly impact recycling rates and material quality. Mandatory reporting would provide a clear picture of these practices across the EU, making it possible to evaluate which approaches are most effective in different contexts, potentially leading to the identification and sharing of best practices across Europe.

For policymakers, this shift can provide a solid evidence base for future decisions at both national and EU levels. The resulting data should inform investment decisions, operational strategies, and innovation efforts.

A key aspect of the proposed reporting framework is the inclusion of impurity rates for specific waste streams as a performance indicator. This would monitor the quality of collected and sorted materials, ensuring compliance with European regulations on recycled material standards. By tracking impurity rates, the industry can better assess the effectiveness of collection and sorting processes, leading to improvements in material quality and recyclability.

Moreover, this change would increase transparency in the waste management sector, potentially leading to greater public engagement and trust in recycling systems. By providing a clearer picture of how waste is managed across the EU, it could encourage more informed public participation in recycling efforts.

Reflecting the interconnected nature of Europe’s market for secondary resources, the JRC's proposal also recognises the importance of data on cross-border movement of waste. Improved tracking of these movements could lead to more accurate reporting, better resource allocation, and enhanced compliance with EU waste shipment regulations.

EU-level Monitoring System with KPIs

To track progress and assess the effectiveness of waste management strategies, the JRC proposes implementing a monitoring system at the EU level with a set of specific waste management KPIs. These would include metrics such as:

• Amount of waste collected separately or commingled by type of collection
• Capture rate of specific waste streams
• Impurity rate of specific waste streams
• Amount of bio-waste in residual waste
• Amount of biodegradable packaging in bio-waste

The report states: "The KPIs are to be calculated on the basis of the data submitted for compliance with the reporting obligations. The availability of harmonised and consistent waste data for each Member State can ultimately support the evaluation of new policy options at EU level."

Although the JRC's recommendations are not a formal legal requirement, they provide a clear indication of the direction EU waste management regulations may take. It states: "Implementing [these] recommendations and proposed best practices at the appropriate levels of the waste management value chain will support performance improvement and compliance with the general obligations of EU waste legislation."