EUR-Lex. European Commission - Environment - Waste. Additional tools In Europe, we currently use 16 tonnes of material per person per year, of which 6 tonnes become waste. Although the management of that waste continues to improve in the EU, the European economy currently still loses a significant amount of potential 'secondary raw materials' such as metals, wood, glass, paper, plastics present waste streams. In 2010, total waste production in the EU amounted to 2,5 billion tons. From this total only a limited (albeit increasing) share (36%) was recycled, with the rest was landfilled or burned, of which some 600 million tons could be recycled or reused. Just in terms of household waste alone, each person in Europe is currently producing, on average, half of tonne of such waste. Turning waste into a resource is one key to a circular economy.
In line with this the 7th Environment Action Programme sets the following priority objectives for waste policy in the EU: Brochure: The EU’s approach to waste management. European Commission - Environment - Chemicals. Additional tools Our well-being in society depends for a large part on chemicals. Chemicals are everywhere, and are an essential component of our daily lives. At the same time, some chemicals can severely damage our health. Others could be dangerous if not properly used. There is a worrying increase in health problems that can be partially explained by the use of chemicals. Some man-made chemicals are found in the most remote places in the environment, but also in animals and humans.
Starting in the late nineties and causing considerable debate, a new horizontal chemicals legislation was developed, and in 2007, REACH entered into force. Other aspects of EU horizontal chemical legislation include the protection of laboratory animals . Sectorial chemicals legislation is also in the process of renewal: the Framework Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides and the Regulation on Authorization of Plant Protection Products are expected to enter into force in the near future. European Commission - Environment - Soil. Additional tools Soil is defined as the top layer of the earth’s crust. It is formed by mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms. It is in fact an extremely complex, variable and living medium. The interface between the earth, the air and the water, soil is a non-renewable resource which performs many vital functions: food and other biomass production, storage, filtration and transformation of many substances including water, carbon, nitrogen.
Soil has a role as a habitat and gene pool, serves as a platform for human activities, landscape and heritage and acts as a provider of raw materials. These functions are worthy of protection because of their socio-economic as well as environmental importance. Erosion, loss of organic matter, compaction, salinisation, landslides, contamination, sealing… Soil degradation is accelerating, with negative effects on human health, natural ecosystems and climate change, as well as on our economy. Bodem Europa Platform.