Professor Jim Baird was today (21 October) inaugurated as the new President of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), and used the opportunity to launch a report into data harmonisation in Europe.
Speaking at his inauguration at Glasgow City Chambers, Baird stated that a particular focus of his presidency will be waste data, and how it is turned into evidence for decision-making.
With targets and reporting set to be given renewed focus with the release of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package in December, Baird used his speech to launch a new report into the framework for measuring recycling across Europe.
The report, ‘EU Recycling rate harmonisation’, was carried out by Social, Environmental & Economics Solutions (SOENECS) Ltd and the University of Brighton. It explores the impact of the different definitions and methodologies used by EU member states to calculate their recycling rates. It suggests inconsistencies, including differences in data capture and the interpretation of definitions across member states.
Inconsistency is also, it found, being created by the European Commission itself. Analysis of four calculation methodologies set out by the commission reveals that they yield different recycling rates with the same data sets, with an average variance of 8.6 per cent between the highest and lowest.
Current measurement framework ‘not up to the job’
Commenting on the report’s findings, Baird said: “CIWM has repeatedly expressed concern about the accuracy and value of comparative recycling statistics and data across Europe, and this report confirms our suspicions. A measurement framework that can deliver this level of variation with the same set of data will simply not be up to the job as we move into the more ambitious territory of the circular economy.
“If the imminent circular economy package is to posit higher targets, then not only do we need a more consistent and robust calculation and reporting framework, but also a tightening up of the definitions upon which recycling performance calculations are made.”
Report author Dr David Greenfield added: “This research illustrates how difficult it is to compare recycling statistics across Europe with any degree of accuracy and highlights the opportunity to explore better ways of monitoring to support circular economy principles and reflect the latest advances in waste and resource management practices. Data capture also needs to be more sophisticated and materials rather than tonnage focused.”
Circular economy, crime and education among other presidential themes
Baird also outlined a number of other themes for his presidential year. These include the need for renewed efforts to tackle waste crime through collaborative working with industry and regulators and the importance of promoting resource efficiency and circular economy learning.
Baird also emphasised CIWM’s commitment to the circular economy agenda, a chief focus of his predecessor John Quinn’s presidential year.
In addition to continuing to embed circular economy principles in CIWM activities, Baird stressed that work will focus on the policy measures that will be needed to drive progress on the circular economy agenda.
In particular, he said, work will be done on the future of producer responsibility, promising a report on the subject later this year. Baird called the practice a “core building block”, stressing the role that producers and manufacturers can play in supporting collection and treatment.
Baird’s background
Baird is currently Chair of Waste and Resource Management at the School of Engineering and the Built Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University. He moved into academia with the university in 1994 following a decade at the British Hydromechanics Research Association.
Baird was elected as a CIWM General Councillor in 2003 and is a fellow of the institution. He has served as both Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer of CIWM’s Scottish Centre and has also acted as the Scottish representative on the CIWM Scientific & Technical Committee as well as sitting on the CIWM Environmental Body and the Fellows Assessment Panel.
Read the full ‘EU Recycling rate harmonisation project’ report.
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