PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Municipal waste management practices are failing to achieve high recycling rates in several southern European countries, making it difficult to achieve EU targets. The Waste Framework Directive requires Member States to increase the re-use and recycling of waste materials, such as paper, metal, plastic and glass from households, to a minimum of 50% overall by weight by 2020. Recycling rates of these waste streams in Greece, Cyprus and Portugal are currently around 20%, well below the target and the current European average (35%). One cause of this is inefficiency in the selective collection of materials: less than 15% of all lightweight packaging is presently recovered and valorised, while the remainder is sent unsorted to Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) and to landfill. The overall low rates of segregation at source and recycling mean higher treatment costs at MBT facilities and an inefficient use of resources. Since citizens and commerce actively engaged in source-segregation and recycling pay the same fee as those who do not sort or recycle, they do not feel rewarded and this can weaken their commitment.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE PAYT project aimed to implement an integrated, cost-efficient and highly replicable PAYT (pay-as-you-throw) system in five southern EU municipalities: Lisbon, Condeixa and Aveiro (Portugal), Vrilissia (Greece) and Larnaka (Cyprus). LIFE PAYT had four main objectives:
- Reduce residual waste from household and commerce;
- Increase recycling rates for packaging materials;
- Demonstrate changes in local decision-making that contribute to the implementation of EU environmental strategies and targets; and
- Promote the replication of the concept in other southern European municipalities.
To achieve these aims, the project aimed to use strategies to link waste producers with the amount of waste they discard. For instance, the project would modernise and optimise residual waste collection by introducing software and hardware tools (RFID, ID cards, monitoring collection), and design fair and equitable waste tariffs. LIFE PAYT would use a participatory approach to maximise municipal stakeholders’ involvement and raise awareness – e.g. by creating specific training courses for decision makers. The project’s development support tools were expected to boost transferability, with the involvement of stakeholders from Bulgaria, Croatia, Malta, Romania and Spain.
The project would contribute to achieving the household waste management objectives of the Waste Framework Directive and the reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfills (with subsequent greenhouse gas emission reductions), as outlined by the Landfill of Waste Directive.
RESULTS
LIFE PAYT promoted the adoption of pay as you throw (PAYT) waste tariffs, to encourage waste prevention and separate waste collection practices. The project team demonstrated that PAYT tariffs lead to a reduction in unsorted waste and to an increase in the recovery of source-segregated recyclable materials. Customised PAYT solutions, based on smart waste containers that measure amounts of waste discarded, were demonstrated at five sites in three countries: Aveiro, Condeixa and Lisbon (Portugal), Larnaka (Cyprus), and Vrilissia (Greece). Three sites targeted domestic waste (Aveiro, Larnaka and Vrilissia) and two targeted non-domestic waste (Condeixa and Lisbon).
Each participating municipality adapted PAYT technology to local conditions. In Aveiro, access to street waste containers was controlled using access cards given to residents. In Vrilissia, scales installed on containers registered weight before and after each opening. In Larnaka, waste collection was changed to a door-to-door scheme with bags. In Condeixa and Lisbon, the volume of bins and the number of times they were emptied was counted. Implementation costs and obstacles were assessed for each PAYT solution, and the economic and environmental benefits of each were compared. Furthermore, alternatives to unsorted waste discarding were provided, for example, new drop-off points (Aveiro and Condeixa) or waste containers for recyclables (Lisbon). Composting was promoted for individual families/houses, and at community level (public parks and schools), and the relevant equipment (composting kits) distributed.
The project team trained technical staff and elected officials on PAYT systems and tariffs. They trained residents and commercial establishments on how to use PAYT containers to better separate waste, through door-to-door visits, street campaigns, videos and workshops. Several home composting hands-on courses took place.
A PAYT operation platform was developed, allowing municipality staff, citizens, and scientists to monitor demonstration sites. A PAYT Tariff Simulator was created and used to prepare PAYT waste tariffs. A “LIFEPAYT TOOLBOX” App was also developed, which compiles the tools developed within the project: PAYT guide, tariff simulator, PAYT platform, training for elected officials, and home composting course.
The project team verified the direct environmental and economic benefits of PAYT, including a decrease in mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) by 147 ton, an increase in source-separated MSW of 1 335 ton, and a reduction of GHG emissions from MSW management and recycling of 463 ton CO2 eq. Companies that took part in the development of new technological solutions for PAYT (e.g. electronic devices, software) gained new business opportunities as a result.
Project outcomes have huge replicability potential, helped by project recommendations for implementing PAYT and related legislation in Portugal and Greece. In Cyprus, for instance, the government intends to have a PAYT system implemented in 2023.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
