Innovation in Waste Management Policies

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Local, regional and national authorities are working hard to address the problem of waste management. They consider new approaches and technologies to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover waste. They attempt to fit these into a comprehensive and circular approach. But how are they doing? Are these measures having a real impact? Could they be done better? SMART WASTE is born to answer these questions. SMART WASTE evaluates to what extent current national, regional and local policies have promoted successful innovation in waste management. It then proposes interregional solutions to address policy weaknesses. 5 policy partners, with support from an expert Advisory Partner, evaluate their policy context, assessing how it has supported smart waste management, and propose improvements to policy instruments. 3 partners have selected ERDF funding programmes and 2 work on local programmes. All have the potential to fund experimental projects to test innovative waste measures. An early output will be a first Action Plan focused on Good Practice transfer to fund new projects. Policies could also benefit from improvements linked to management approaches and strategic focus. A second stage Action Plan will build on interregional and regional evaluation and learning in the project to propose and implement such changes. SMART WASTE contributes to European waste policy, including the Environmental Action Programme and the new Circular Economy rules. It contributes to Europe 2020 objectives for smart and sustainable growth. It supports Interreg Europe aims for improved policy on key societal challenges, thanks to interregional learning between territories with different experiences and stages of development. SMART WASTE territories will see increases in reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery of waste, with knock-on environmental and economic benefits. The final result? Smarter, more effective, sustainable and cost efficient waste management, benefiting all territorial stakeholders.

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