AHK Baltic 2
Development of guidelines for municipal biowaste management in the Baltic States
Grant recipient
German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Term
08/01/2024 to 04/30/2026
Priority areas
Circular economy
Funding priority
- Implementability studies
- International networking
Target countries
Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia
The initial situation
In the Baltic states, only a small proportion of biowaste has been recycled as yet. Biowaste accounts for a large proportion of municipal solid waste, i.e. waste generated in households, trade, commerce and offices. The relevant EU directives define detailed requirements for the biodegradable waste management. The collection of this type of waste has been regulated since 2024 and its recycling will also be subject to regulation as of 2025. The extent to which biowaste management can contribute to the introduction of a circular economy in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia was contemplated as part of the AHK Baltic States2 project.
The approach
The project focused on the optimization of biowaste management in the Baltic States in order to promote a sustainable circular economy in line with EU directives.
The objectives and measures
The objective of the project was to establish an efficient biowaste management system in the Baltic states, where only a small proportion is currently being recycled. The high degree of recycling in Germany served as a good example, so the knowledge transfer from Germany was of paramount importance.
Waste recycling regulations in the Baltic states are imposed at municipal level. Therefore, the project aimed to develop results in the form of practical guidelines for local authorities in order to contribute to the successful implementation of biowaste management. In order to expand the mutual transfer of knowledge, representatives from local authorities were involved throughout the project.
The project began with a requirement analysis of biowaste management in the target region and included the acquisition of participants from participating sectors, national authorities, non-governmental organisations and municipalities. In order to be able to consider processes in detail, a waste management region was selected as a case study. The relevant processes were then presented to the participants during an on-site visit, followed by the opportunity to exchange views and opinions.
A study trip to companies from the environmental technology sector in Germany and a local workshop with the participation of German experts also provided insights into procedures and approaches from Germany. The project concluded with the development of guidelines for biowaste management in municipalities.