Waste Availability, Successful Regional Strategies and New WtE Projects Shaping – The Benefits and Application of the Optimization Tool NERUDA –

It is expected that this negative outlook would not change even though the majority of EU countries, mainly those from Central, South and Eastern Europe, have promised a gradual decrease in biodegradable waste landfilled by 2020. Even though this future obligation exists, it looks as though the current driver stipulating investors' activity to turn the projects from planning into their implementation phase is missing. The shift towards more efficient utilization requires the design of intelligent regional strategies and investors' willingness to build and operate new incineration plants at the same time. In general, a strong political determination to change legislation related to waste management and to implement key economic instruments is missing in many countries. These changes could discourage cheap landfilling and encourage more sustainable forms of waste treatment in compliance with directive 2008/98/EC. An overview of landfill taxes and bans across Europe is provided by CEWEP as they are in place or are planned in near future. Since it is regularly updated it provides the latest data. In countries like Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Romania and the UK, important changes are expected this year or in 2015 and 2016 to establish other methods of MSW treatment. The same document monitors current average gate-fees at landfills. Current gate-fees at landfills were analysed in report, where the correlation between a decrease in landfilling and landfill tax is highlighted. Particular projects have to be implemented and lead to their successful operation to turn the selected strategy into practice.