Biological Treatment in the EU

Biological treatment is gaining momentum across Europe. Enforcement of the principles of the Landfill
Directive, mandating diversion of biodegradables in order to improve conditions for landfilling, is a
primary driver. Also the ongoing definition of an European Strategy for Soil Protection, with its
overarching principles targeting recovery of organic fertility, will exert a great influence on further
development of composting.

In order to ensure full efficiency, the strategy should consider proper planning, design and
implementation of schemes for separate collection (experiences are well established, by now, in many
Regions across Europe); a careful and aware marketing strategy; a technically informed design and
management of compost sites.

In parallel to the likely growth of composting, also Mechanical-Biological Treatment (MBT) is
undergoing a fast growth, as an option for pre-treatment of residual waste and in order to improve
recovery of energy and/or final disposal at landfills. The background reasons for the widespread interest
in MBT, its operational goals, and principles for its integration and synergies with strategies for
composting, need to be properly investigated, in order to outline consistent waste management strategies,
delivering important results in terms of diversion from landfills, economics and improvement of
environmental performances of waste management.

All the foregoing will be comprehensively considered during a high-level workshop on biological
treatment, where some of the most knowledgeable experts in this field will help refine views on the
potential role and specific goals of biological treatment.

Decision-makers, legislators, NGOs, and the waste industry will certainly find the programme attractive,
and capable to deliver first-hand information about current drivers, good practice, and recommendations
for proper planning.



ISWA in cooperation with SEP and RASWM
Invites to a workshop on
Biological Treatment
Thursday March 17, 2005 at 10.00
At the Brancusi Hall (Conference Centre) of Bucharest Exhibition Centre


Practical information

The workshop will take place at the Brancusi Hall (Conference Centre) of Bucharest
Exhibition Centre

Language:
The presentations and the documentation will be in English. Translation will be made into
Romanian.



Biological Treatment in the EU

Workshop program

Starting at 10.00 until 13.30

Presentations by:
Enzo Favoino, Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza (ITA) Chair of WG Biological Treatment of
Waste
Federico Valentini, Gesenu, Ita
Josef Barth, ECN, Ger
Helena Bergman, ISWA General Secretariat


9.30 Welcome by the Chairman of the Romanian Waste Management Association,

9.40 Introduction of ISWA, objectives and activities and important ISWA issues

Helena Bergman (SWE), ISWA General Secretariat

9.50 Setting the scene for Biological Treatment in the EU legislation, experiences,
drivers.

Josef Barth (GER), ECN Managing Director

10.20 Strategies for the management of biowaste and the importance of separate
collection: experiences, good practice and operational results

Enzo Favoino, Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza (ITA) Chair of ISWA WG
Biological Treatment of Waste

11.00 Quality, use and market of composted products

Josef Barth (GER), ECN Managing Director

11.40 Process optimisation at composting and MBT sites: operational concepts and
instruments for proper monitoring

Federico Valentini, GESENU (ITA), ISWA WG on Biological Treatment of
Waste

12.20 Mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) of residual waste: status and trends,
operational lay-out and regulatory issues

Enzo Favoino, Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza (ITA) Chair of WG
Biological Treatment of Waste

12.50 Open field discussion