(best examples and good practices) on household organic waste ...

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protected in any means. This can be achieved only by preventing or at least by
reducing the negative impacts that, waste management <strong>and</strong> generation creates
<strong>and</strong> by reducing further <strong>and</strong> further the impacts of source use. This framework
Directive sets a five step waste management hierarchy in the priority order
shown below (Figure 1.):
Figure 1.: The Waste Hierarchy (ACM Waste Management. 2010)
Highest priority is given to waste prevention followed by preparation for reuse,
recycling, other energy recovery <strong>and</strong> disposal as the last <strong>and</strong> worst option.
Policies may diverge from the hierarchy in the interests of minimizing overall
environmental impact. This strategy sets out guidelines <strong>and</strong> describes measures
aimed at reducing the pressure on the environment caused by waste
production <strong>and</strong> management. The main thrust of the strategy is on amending i.
the legislation to improve implementation, ii. Preventing the negative impact
of waste <strong>and</strong> iii. Promoting effective recycling.
In particular, the Directive sets a 50% recycling target for at least paper, metal,
plastic <strong>and</strong> glass from households - <strong>and</strong> possibly from other similar origins - to
be met by 2020. This can work in favor of bio-waste recycling since bio-waste is
the largest single fraction of household waste <strong>and</strong> Member States can include
appropriate parts of it in the calculation of the 50% target. The target will be
subject to review by 2014.