[GreenYes] Report on Recycling in Austria

["Michael Jessen" <toenail@netidea.com>]

Sorry for any cross postings, but thought this story from the Edie news
service http://www.edie.net might be of interest.

Michael Jessen
toenail environmental services
5635 Highway 3A
Nelson, BC V1L 6N7 Canada
Office Phone: 250/229-4621
Home Phone: 250/229-5632
Fax: 775/587-9838
E-mail: toenail@netidea.com
Web: www.toenail.org/

Recycling of packaging materials saves Austria nearly EUR270 million per
year


Separate treatment and recycling of waste packaging materials in Austria is
saving the country ATS3,700 million (EUR269 million) every year, according
to a cost-benefit analysis published by the Austrian Federal Environment
Agency.

The report assesses a combination of economic and some ecological costs and
benefits, although does not include those that cannot be expressed in
monetary terms, such as noise, smell, and effects on the landscape.

The analysis concludes that the separate collection of paper waste, from
both packaging and non-packaging uses, is at a high level, and is producing
large economic advantages. Such practices should be increased, says the
report.

On the other hand, the separate collection of plastic packaging and drinks
containers should be reduced from its current level to around 50% of that
produced. Drinks cartons collected separately from other packaging waste and
recycled should be given up completely in order to produce positive economic
benefits, says the research.

However, the recycling of commercial plastic packaging has a slightly
positive economic effect when factors such as the restoration of landfill,
carbon dioxide avoidance costs, and landfill investment costs are taken into
consideration, and could be increased. However, when the alternative would
be incineration, it becomes less profitable to recycle this waste.

Finally, the collection and recycling of domestic metal packaging is
economically viable when compared with landfilling and when considering
issues such as carbon dioxide avoidance costs.



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