Press Releases
[Press release] Czech government cuts money for recycling, diverts EU funds to "landfill in the sky"
(November 16, 2009)
 The public action by Czech Bankwatch member group Hnuti Duha informing about the government's decision's impact. |
A proposal to cut money for the recycling of waste announced by the Czech government today will increase Czech imports of raw materials and lead to environmental damage, according to Czech Friends of the Earth, member group of CEE Bankwatch Network.
Czech ministers decided in favour of a hastily prepared amendment to the state waste management plan, backing a plan that will allow controversial subsidies to go to waste incinerator plants. The move involves the diversion of some money from EU funds allocations that were until now earmarked for improving waste separation and recycling.
Czech Friends of the Earth pointed out that according to figures from the Czech Ministry of Environment the construction of incinerators - instead of recycling - will increase the costs for families when it comes to the collection of domestic waste.
The ministry conducted a study comparing investments in recycling with the construction of incinerators where it has been calculated that recycling has both lower investment and operational costs and decreases the amount of waste going to landfills. Yet the Czech Ministry of Environment now proposes to subsidise incinerators. Czech Friends of the Earth pointed out that the proposal by the Environment Minister and accepted today has also not undergone any publicly available economic or environmental assessment.
This change has come about as a result of intense political pressure from the heads of several Czech regional authorities who want to build incinerators. Constructing these facilities for the handling of 100 000 tonnes of waste will cost around EUR 100 million.
Ivo Kropacek, waste campaigner for Czech Friends of the Earth and Bankwatch, said: "The Czech Republic's progressive waste plan that is now up in smoke because of today's decision would have ensured a rapid increase in recycling levels, in line with levels in progressive European countries. Landfills and incinerators on the other hand mean that millions of tonnes of high quality, recyclable materials get squandered. Every tonne thrown away or burned means that we have to extract new resources. [1]
"This backing for 'landfill in the sky' technology is a regretable backward step from the provisional Czech government. Under this new ruling EU money now has the potential to destroy what was a progressive waste policy. At the same time, any future use of EU taxpayers money will have to come with transparent assessments of real needs and ought still to lead to the prioritisation of the cheapest waste solutions with the least impact on the environment, namely waste seperation and recycling."
Czech ministers decided in favour of a hastily prepared amendment to the state waste management plan, backing a plan that will allow controversial subsidies to go to waste incinerator plants. The move involves the diversion of some money from EU funds allocations that were until now earmarked for improving waste separation and recycling.
Czech Friends of the Earth pointed out that according to figures from the Czech Ministry of Environment the construction of incinerators - instead of recycling - will increase the costs for families when it comes to the collection of domestic waste.
The ministry conducted a study comparing investments in recycling with the construction of incinerators where it has been calculated that recycling has both lower investment and operational costs and decreases the amount of waste going to landfills. Yet the Czech Ministry of Environment now proposes to subsidise incinerators. Czech Friends of the Earth pointed out that the proposal by the Environment Minister and accepted today has also not undergone any publicly available economic or environmental assessment.
This change has come about as a result of intense political pressure from the heads of several Czech regional authorities who want to build incinerators. Constructing these facilities for the handling of 100 000 tonnes of waste will cost around EUR 100 million.
Ivo Kropacek, waste campaigner for Czech Friends of the Earth and Bankwatch, said: "The Czech Republic's progressive waste plan that is now up in smoke because of today's decision would have ensured a rapid increase in recycling levels, in line with levels in progressive European countries. Landfills and incinerators on the other hand mean that millions of tonnes of high quality, recyclable materials get squandered. Every tonne thrown away or burned means that we have to extract new resources. [1]
"This backing for 'landfill in the sky' technology is a regretable backward step from the provisional Czech government. Under this new ruling EU money now has the potential to destroy what was a progressive waste policy. At the same time, any future use of EU taxpayers money will have to come with transparent assessments of real needs and ought still to lead to the prioritisation of the cheapest waste solutions with the least impact on the environment, namely waste seperation and recycling."
For more information
Ivo Kropacek
Waste campaigner, Czech Friends of the Earth/CEE Bankwatch Network
Tel: 00420 604 207 302
Email: ivo.kropacek AT hnutiduha.cz
Notes for editors
1. The recycling of municipal waste in the Czech Republic currently amounts to only 20 percent, comparing unfavourably with neighbouring Germany that recycles three times more. In the Czech Republic mixed waste bins are outside every house but recycling containers are on average more than 100 metres away. Biologically degradable waste from kitchens and gardens, the largest portion of waste, can be recycled only in several cities.
Waste campaigner, Czech Friends of the Earth/CEE Bankwatch Network
Tel: 00420 604 207 302
Email: ivo.kropacek AT hnutiduha.cz
Notes for editors
1. The recycling of municipal waste in the Czech Republic currently amounts to only 20 percent, comparing unfavourably with neighbouring Germany that recycles three times more. In the Czech Republic mixed waste bins are outside every house but recycling containers are on average more than 100 metres away. Biologically degradable waste from kitchens and gardens, the largest portion of waste, can be recycled only in several cities.
CEE Bankwatch Network gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.