Waste Management: how is it changing at global level?
Waste management (collection, treatment, selection and disposal of urban refuse) is undergoing big changes, which as well as safeguarding the environment and citizens’ health more efficiently, is bringing a general improvement to that sector, with positive implications for the global economy.
In recent years, several trends have emerged, such as more investment in innovative technologies for converting waste matter into energy, the use of new materials and alternative fuels. This is encouraging a more modern approach to waste management, whether industrial or urban, designed to take full advantage of its benefits.
The great transformation in waste management
According to experts, waste management is evolving much faster than would have been possible just a few years ago. The reasons for this rapid development can be traced to two main factors:
- Internal company innovation, which is gradually changing basic refuse collection and transforming it into a process of evaluation and retrieval;
- Convergence between sectors, which facilitates dialogue between companies operating in this area. It encourages the involvement of larger industrial firms, strengthening the circular economy.
Recent changes in the waste management sector are reflected in the statistics: in 2019, the 230 leading companies in that sector registered an increase in their production value of 11.7 billion Euros in 2019 compared to 2018, with an increase of 6.4% in the quantity of waste processed and a 4.1% increase in investment.
These figures are very encouraging, especially if we consider that they were achieved in the context of a challenging global economic situation. Dialogues and partnerships with major oil companies and multinationals operating in the chemicals sector have also paved the way for important new business opportunities.
Waste management developments in Italy
Italy has also seen growth in waste management, with 120 leading firms collecting a total of 26.5 million tonnes of refuse in 2019, an overall increase of 6.4% compared to 2018. These companies operate in 56% of municipal districts nationwide, serving 70% of the population and processing approximately 76% of the country’s total urban waste.
It is important to highlight that investment has increased by 4.1%, generating 535 million Euros and separate waste collection has increased from 58.1% to 64.7% in 2019. These are substantial figures and further increases are hoped for with the building of new plants for the treatment of waste materials and the expansion of existing facilities.
The value of waste and new recycling methods
The new technologies used in waste management are helping companies appreciate the potential value of refuse. It is no longer a question of mere disposal, but rather of exploring ways to re-use the waste materials in order to exploit their full potential.
There are many types of refuse, such as paper, plastic, FORSU, RAEE, solar panels etc. The majority of these can be recycled and transformed into something useful, such as biofuels, obtained by composting FORSU, the material collected during the separation of organic waste.
In addition to biogases and bio-methane, greater focus is being placed on bioplastics, thanks mainly to new opportunities provided by the chemical recycling process and new methods being introduced for the collection of plastics and rubble.
As far as RAEE related waste and solar panels are concerned, there is still plenty of work to be done. There is no shortage of investment in those areas, but the recycling technology used for those industrial products is still in its infancy. The situation is expected to improve considerably by 2030.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
