What do we see?
The graph below shows the evolution of the quantity of mixed industrial residual waste as estimated from the Integral Environmental Annual Report (Integraal Milieujaarverslag, IMJV) and of industrial residual waste from 2013 to 2021 as measured by Valipac.
The amount of mixed primary industrial residual waste estimated from the data collected through the IMJV has fluctuated around 1 million tonnes since 2007. A steady increase can be seen from 2014, followed by a sudden drop in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and the measures taken to combat the crisis such as lockdowns and the increase in teleworking.
We see the same trend in the Valipac data; these numbers are lower because here mixed construction and demolition waste is explicitly excluded. According to the Valipac data, companies produced 6% less residual waste in 2020 than in 2019. In 2021, the amount of company residual waste fell further to 872 kilotonnes.
Data for 2022 are not yet available.
What’s the aim?
The target is to reduce the production of industrial residual waste by 15% by 2022 compared to 2013, adjusted for the growth in Flemish employment. After all, more employment in Flanders results in more industrial residual waste. After this correction, we already see a 5% drop in industrial waste by 2021 compared to 2013.
New regulations on the collection of industrial residual waste came into force at the end of 2021. This requires collectors to carry out checks on source sorting in waste products. Collectors must ensure that residual waste contains as little recyclable waste as possible before it goes to incineration. As a result of this, as well as the economic recession and the energy crisis, we expect the amount of industrial residual waste to decrease further by 2022.
With the new Local Materials Plan 2023-2030, Flanders has set a target to produce 30% less industrial residual waste by 2030 compared to the period 2018-2020.
What does this indicator measure?
This indicator measures the production of primary industrial residual waste in Flanders. Industrial residual waste is the mixed waste fraction that is not selectively collected by companies and is the counterpart of residual household waste. OVAM estimates the amount of mixed industrial waste based on the IMJV. The figures can be further broken down by sector, processing method and company size. Valipac calculates the amount of industrial residual waste based on data from their affiliated waste collectors.
