Europe waste management strategy

However the EU classification of lead stabilisers as reprotoxic, harmful, dangerous for the environment and danger of cumulative effects and their presence (heavy metal) causing issues in waste management strategies, resulted in their agreed phase-out in Europe (see Section 7). 

Use of life-cycle assessment techniques to analyze material choices, processes, and waste disposal continues to increase. Some countries in Europe require life-cycle analysis before products are introduced. The U.S. EPA and the Department of Energy have jointly sponsored research to develop the tools and information needed for life-cycle analysis-based decisions about solid waste management strategies. The results of this project have already undergone peer review by experts, and are scheduled to be released in 2000. This study includes both economic and environmental aspects, and will have relevance internationally as well as in the United States. ... 

The waste hierarchy refers to the 3Rs of reduce, reuse and recycle, which classify waste management strategies according to their desirability. The 3Rs meant to be a hierarchy, in order of importance. However in Europe, the waste hierarehy has 5 steps reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery and disposal. 

In a nutshell, the separate collection of organics is the driving force behind the evolution of strategies for the sustainable management of waste across Europe. 

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