Economic growth, waste and the environment
April 2005

Increasing levels of pollution, rapid growth of waste production, expansion of the transport network including roads, motorways and air traffic, induce important degradation of the soil, seas and of the air we breath. The amount of toxic waste now produced, is significantly higher and radioactive waste constitute a permanent danger for the generations to come.

When politicians plan economic policies, do they consider the consequences in terms of production of rubbish by the consumers, the threat posed to wildlife, to human health, to fish stocks, the atmosphere?

These fundamental questions are of capital importance for the well being of people everywhere on earth, for now and for the future.

Treating and controlling pollution is essential to maintaining a clean and healthy environment. The European Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), with the support of the working group on environmental monitoring (WGEM) cooperate for finding optimal solutions for economical growth without environmental detrimental effects.

The European Environmental Agency, monitors and publishes interesting analysis of the current situation relevant to economic development and related pressures on the environment.

Environmental policies, when properly developed and implemented, have in several fields led to significant improvements and reduced pressures on Europe's environment.

Fields where improvements have been achieved include the emissions of substances that deplete the ozone layer, reductions in air emissions and improvements in air quality and reductions in point source emissions to water leading to improved water quality. Protection of biodiversity through the designation and protection of habitats has provided some improvements.

In Europe each year more than 3,000 million tones of waste are generated. In Western Europe this equals to 3.8 tones per capita, in Central and Eastern Europe to 4.4 tones per capita.

The municipal waste represents 14% of total waste arising. Landfilling is still the predominant treatment option in most countries. According to European Union guidelines, till 2020 no more than 15% of the total waste should end up in landfills.

For every European country, waste is major issue. Waste quantities are constantly growing everywhere. Waste generation represents loss of materials and energy. In addition to the environmental burden it generates, it creates more economic burden for its collection, treatment and disposal.

While most of Europe's waste is landfilled, incineration is on the increase. Landfills and incineration have a potential for greenhouse emissions. Methane which is generated in this way, contributes to the green house effect. Organic micro-pollutants such as dioxins and furans as well as volatile heavy metals, enhance the negative impact of waste to the environment.

The hazardous waste generation associated with economic growth, is increasing in a number of countries. Today hazardous waste represents 1% of all European waste generation. The Basel convention regulates the production and transboundary movements of hazardous waste.

A major culprit of highly dangerous radioactive waste production, is the nuclear power industry. There is a steady accumulation of radioactive waste which will remain active and deleterious to human health for hundreds of thousands years to come.

A solution to this serious threat has not yet been found and in many countries there is an overload of disposal sites and no adequate measures are taken for isolation and environment protection.

The initiatives promoting waste prevention and recycling, the improvement of the safety standards for final processing and disposal are needed in order to minimize the environmental risks and costs associated with waste generation, treatment and disposal.

These facts show clearly that economic growth is threatening Europe's environment. In many countries, European and others, there is a lack of national capacities, for safe management and disposal of all sorts of waste generated by the economic expansion.

International mechanisms in place should be strengthened and others needed should be established in order that countries with more know how and resources assist others to handle these difficult issues. The international trade in hazardous, toxic or radioactive waste is a peril which can be managed through education and multilateral cooperative measures.

Economic growth should not be based on traditional environmental damaging activities and the transfer of such industries to less developed, cheap labor countries is not an acceptable solution.

Therefore politicians planning for growth, should take in full account these parameters and face the environmental implications on a global scale.

 

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