From Waste to Resources
From Waste to Resources
It is the role of governments to prevent the waste of raw materials and energy and to ensure that human health and the environment are not harmed by waste.
In recent decades, the Netherlands has scored well on waste management. The amount of landfilled waste decreased from 35% in 1985 to 2.3% in 2010; the percentage of recovery (including Waste-to-energy) has risen from 50% to 88% and more and more waste is separately collected. For recycling purposes, separately collected waste streams are used.
Future challenge
The future challenge is to achieve a circular economy. Resources are becoming scarcer and more expensive and need to be used less, and more efficiently. Rijkswaterstaat therefore promotes sustainable consumption and production inside and outside the Netherlands.
Role of Rijkswaterstaat
The role of the waste department of Rijkswaterstaat - the executive body of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment - is to implement (European) policy and to implement programmes aimed at preventing and reducing waste streams through prevention, re-use and recycling and at minimising the environmental impact of product chains and waste management through a life-cycle approach (resource efficiency).
The policy to achieve effective waste management is outlined in the National Waste Management Plan.
Items
At an international level, Rijkswaterstaat contributes to capacity-building on waste management in various countries and participates in European projects.
In European projects our department cooperates with agencies, knowledge institutes and Ministries of other member states.
In Europe, the Netherlands has established a leading position in waste management. Currently, 79% of our waste is recycled and the remaining waste is generally used for energy production.
In the late 1980s, the Netherlands suffered from a lack of landfill capacity and insufficient thermal treatment capacity.
The Information desk responds to queries from authorities and businesses concerning the implementation of waste policy.