EU and waste policies
Norwegian environmental politics are influenced and shaped through Norway's membership in the EEA (European Economic Area). The European Union (EU) has throughout years of integration and cooperation defined a common approach on environmenal politics. This common approach became evident when the EU became an influencial player in crafting the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.
Environmental policy is now one of the major policy areas in which Brussels plays a critical role, and the impact of the EU on member states and associated countries (such as Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein) domestic policy is significant.
Every year, some two billion tonnes of waste are produced in the Member States and this figure is rising by 10% annually. The sixth action programme for the environment , which is currently being adopted, sets out the priorities for the European Community up to 2010. Four areas are highlighted: climate change, nature and biodiversity, environment and health and the management of natural resources and waste.
Waste management
Community policy on waste management involves three complementary strategies:
- eliminating waste at source by improving product design ;
- encouraging the recycling and re-use of waste;
- reducing pollution caused by waste incineration.
The Community's approach has been to assign more responsibility to the producer. For instance, the Directive of September 2000 on end-of-life vehicles provides for the introduction of a system for collecting such vehicles at the manufacturer's expense. In the same way, two proposals for Directives on waste from electrical and electronic equipment and restricting the use of certain dangerous substances in such equipment are in the process of being adopted.
The European Union has defined the waste flows to be given priority. As a consequence The Union has adopted legislation on packaging waste, batteries and mineral oils . The various options for treating waste, such as disposal in landfills and incineration, have also been the subject of Community measures.
