{"id":3600,"date":"2025-11-12T15:09:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reverterindustries.com\/about-us\/gestion-residuos\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T19:41:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T19:41:10","slug":"waste-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reverterindustries.com\/en\/recycling-plant-en\/waste-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Waste management: key points, examples, and regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want to understand and implement waste management in your organization, here are the essentials: what it means, how the waste hierarchy works, current data in the EU, and a practical plan to get started today.<\/p>\n

What is waste management?<\/h2>\n

Waste management encompasses collection, transport, treatment, recovery, and disposal, following the hierarchy: prevent \u2192 reuse \u2192 recycle \u2192 recover \u2192 dispose. This approach comes from the EU Waste Framework Directive and its official glossary; in Spain, MITECO develops prevention and management at the state level.<\/p>\n

Why it matters (and what’s happening in the EU)<\/h2>\n

Official statistics show the challenge and progress: in 2022, 5.0 tons of waste per capita were generated in the EU; 40.8% was recycled and 30.2% ended up in landfill. In 2023, municipal waste fell for the second year, reaching 511 kg\/person.<\/p>\n

Recycling indicators by stream (municipal, packaging, WEEE) at the European Environment Agency.<\/strong> European Environment Agency<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The management hierarchy: your operational compass<\/h2>\n
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  1. Prevention<\/strong> (reducing at source: purchasing, design, processes).<\/li>\n
  2. Preparation for reuse<\/strong> (repair, reconditioning).<\/li>\n
  3. Recycling<\/strong> (material value).<\/li>\n
  4. Recovery<\/strong> (e.g., energy or biogas when not recyclable).<\/li>\n
  5. Disposal<\/strong> (landfill\/incineration without recovery) as a last resort. The EPA and the EU agree on prioritizing the first three stages.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to apply it in your company (6-step plan)<\/h2>\n
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    1. Waste map + EWC codes:<\/strong> identify waste streams and hazards using the European Waste Catalogue and technical guidelines.<\/li>\n
    2. Segregation at source:<\/strong> separate containers and signage; form teams on a recurring basis (avoid mixing hazardous\/non-hazardous waste).<\/li>\n
    3. Infrastructure and pre-treatment: <\/strong>shredding\/screening to standardize size and improve recyclability. If you work with wood, check out our shredding solutions<\/a> and wood recycling plants.<\/a><\/li>\n
    4. Contracts and traceability:<\/strong> authorized managers, weighings, documents, and reporting aligned with the hierarchy. In Spain, MITECO centralizes procedures and internal\/international transfers.<\/li>\n
    5. Minimum KPIs:<\/strong> % prevention, % reuse, % recycling, % recovery, % disposal; cost \u20ac\/t and incidents.<\/li>\n
    6. Continuous improvement:<\/strong> container audits, route reviews, and renegotiation with data (EEA\/Eurostat serve as a reference for comparing trends). European Environment Agency<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Typical cases (and key decisions)<\/h2>\n