Around 86 million tonnes (173 kg per person) of food are wasted each year in the EU28 (including the UK) along the food value chain, which is about 20% of all food produced, says a report published on Wednesday 17 June by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Analysing the state of play and opportunities related to bio-waste - mainly food and garden waste - the report shows that food waste accounts for around 60% of bio-waste, which itself constitutes the largest share (34%) of all municipal waste in Europe.
In this document, the Agency identifies several ways in which the reduction and use of this waste flux could contribute to a more circular economy.
First of all, preventing food waste could significantly reduce the environmental impacts of food production, processing and transportation, the report notes, but points out that these benefits are far greater than those of recycling food waste, which remains necessary and important.
In addition, bio-waste could contribute to a circular economy by providing valuable materials and fertilisers for soil improvement and biogas production.
However, this implies that they should be collected separately and without being mixed with other types of waste. The contamination of bio-waste by plastics is currently of particular concern, according to the EEA, not least because more and more plastic consumer products are being labelled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’.
For example, although the share of compost and digestate municipal waste was 17% in 2018 - up from 11% in 2004 - a high proportion of bio-waste is found in mixed waste going to landfill or incineration, even in many countries with well-established separate collection systems, the report points out.
The organisation therefore advocates clear rules on the labelling of compostable/biodegradable plastics.
To consult the report: https://bit.ly/3fvznOt (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)