[greenyes] Norway proposes to ban landfilling of biodegradables

["Reindl, John" <Reindl@no.address>]

For your information....

The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) has proposed to ban the
landfilling of all biodegradable materials by mid-2009. 

The goal of the ban is to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of
landfills, especially from methane, which has a GHG potential 21 times that
of CO2 over a 100 year timeframe. Even with the use of gas extraction
systems at landfills, enough methane is estimated to escape to the
atmosphere from landfills to account for 7% of all of Norway's greenhouse
gas emissions. 

The Norwegian proposal is much stricter than the European Union Landfill
directive, which calls for a 65% reduction in the landfilling of
biodegradable materials by 2016 as compared to 1995. 

Included with the proposal are requirements to improve the effectiveness of
gas extraction systems at landfills along with producer responsibilities for
the manufacturers of paper and wood products. 

A hearing is to be held on this proposal early next year. 

John Reindl, Recycling Manager
Dane County, WI