Europe after 2030 - The Development of Waste Management into an Industrial Location Factor - Update

By recognizing all three options for defossilization (biomass, recycling, CCU) as equivalent, as well as the equivalence of mechanical and chemical recycling of plastics and biomass, the economy would have the opportunity to develop technology competition and select the most economically advantageous options.

by Uwe Lahl, Alexander Gosten, Beate Kummer, Peter Quicker and Barbara Zeschmar-Lahl

Abstract

The authors' proposal is to rely on a single central regulation and to achieve a complete conversion of the raw material base of the plastics industry (chemical industry) by 2050 via a ramped-up quota system (defossilization). This would mean that many existing or planned regulatory provisions could be abandoned. As soon as the chemical industry has the clarity to obtain its raw materials from biomass, for example, or by recycling its products, i.e. today's waste, design for recycling will automatically become the industry's central business model in its value chains.

A defossilization quota proposed by the authors would make it possible to formulate more ambitious targets and allow companies to also choose cheaper options for carbon supply (i.e. biomass and recycling). This would give the waste management industry a new but central role as a future supplier of raw materials to secure the industry's future.

By recognizing all three options for defossilization (biomass, recycling, CCU) as equi- valent, as well as the equivalence of mechanical and chemical recycling of plastics and biomass, the economy would have the opportunity to develop technology competition and select the most economically advantageous options.

Defossilization would get a boost if today's waste incineration (in WtE plants) were to be recognized as chemical recycling if it separates CO, from the exhaust gas and uses it chemically in the future. At the same time, however, it would be necessary to set the landfilling of municipal waste in Europe to zero and to proceed in a similar way with waste exports to developing and emerging countries.

In terms of industrial policy, Europe is currently in a difficult situation. Especially for member states such as Germany, the survival of their industry is at risk.

In addition to the energy supply, the supply of renewable carbon and its recycling is a crucial asset for the chemical industry. Germany and Europe should therefore continue to develop its internationally leading waste management infrastructure and establish it as a locational advantage.

Article in German language (There is a free trial available)

Get full article here [external link]

published: Abfallwirtschaft und Energie Band 3, TK Verlag, Berlin, Germany, 1|2026
Keywords: Material Recovery, Pollution Control, Policy Tax Instruments, Sustainability, Climate, Resource management, Plastics, Methods, Analyses, Data, Austria, EU, Germany

Prof. Dr. Uwe Lahl
BZL Kommunikation und Projektsteuerung GmbH