EPSU

New Research on waste companies and waste trends in Europe

Veronique — 2010-03-02T10:19:44Z

(February 2010) EPSU has updated previous research on the European Waste sector. Two papers are now available: Waste companies in Europe; and Waste Management in Europe: framework, trends and issues. Both papers give an overview of recent developments in corporate policy and in European Union policies.

To read Waste Companies in Europe:


Waste companies

To read Waste Management in Europe:


Waste trends

Social clause in procurement, health and safety and prospects for SITA

catherine — 2010-01-21T13:39:52Z

(21 January 2010) Absence of a decent social clause in public contracts remains a problem for thousands of waste workers in the European Union. That was the conclusion of a discussion between trade union representatives from SITA (...read more) - Waste

Waste workers: Our job is keeping the planet green and clean - but STOP wage dumping

catherine — 2009-11-30T09:23:53Z

(30 November 2009) The economic and financial crisis has not missed its impact on the waste sector. Waste volumes have dropped leading to restructuring, delayed or cancelled investments, plant closures and job losses. When contracting out waste services, municipalities often care more about the lowest price then about quality, decent pay and conditions. However, caring for the environment and public health go hand in hand with quality of jobs and a high level of health and safety in the waste sector, say Europe's waste unions. The level of industrial action is high as workers resist employers seeking to force wage freezes, wage cuts and more onerous working schemes on workers. One of the main concerns of the unions is therefore that public contracts should also include social clauses that ensure that both the public authorities (often municipalities) and the contractors respect decent pay and conditions. Further work will be undertaken.

Mr. Bartoz Zambrzycki, representing DG Environment, presented the ongoing reflection on a possible Bio-Waste Directive, indications from the impact assessment and discussed with participants the possible impact on jobs and health and safety. The unions underlined the importance of the link between high level of health and safety and public health and protection for the environment in this sector.

Mrs. Patricia Pedelabat, DG employment, presented the results of the European Commission study on the Future of Jobs and Skills and in particular the relevant sections for the waste sector. The results of the study might be useful for the employers and the trade unions to consider together.

Dave Hall, PSIRU, University of Greenwich, presented two reports on the European Waste Industry. He first provided an overview of the different European Waste Policies and current debates over procurement, remunicipalisation and the lack of academic evidence to prove that the private sector would do a better and more efficiency job then the public sector. Participants made clear with stark examples how private companies win contracts by slashing pay and conditions. He then presented an overview of the main private sector waste companies. A relatively small number dominate the sector. Several companies were considered to create a European Works Council.

Richard Pond presented the work of EPSUCOB@ and the information on pay and conditions in the waste sector. A survey will be send out to complete the picture and obtain a firm overview of industrial relations in the sector. The combination of data on pay and conditions, trends on profits and company data will give unions a deeper understanding of the sector.

Michael Crosby of the Amsterdam office of the US Change to Win union group was a special guest to the waste conference. A lively discussion took place around organizing and recruiting new workers against the background of a drop in membership and the financial and economic crisis.

Catch phrases
Research the sector: “understanding the market”
Concentrate on a sector: focus organising also on the competitors – “trigger agreements”
“Theory of organising”: workers do believe it is rational to join a union if not discouraged by the employer
Focus on a limited target
Strengthen organising skills
Consider the importance of public opinion
Workers and union structure in the work place

Peter Lovkvist and Knut Otter of Swedish Transport Workers gave an overview of recent health and safety research which demonstrates that waste collection workers experience continuous high strain during the working day. With an older work force the risks are high that workers will not reach the retirement age in a health manner.

The meeting was chaired by EPSU Deputy General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan. The waste conference took place 26-27 November 2009 and received financial support from a European Commission funded project.

documents and presentations are available here

Transnational companies, European Works Councils and the waste industry, Facing up to change

catherine — 2009-11-26T11:37:00Z

International Trade Union House (ITUH) – Room Auditorium

5 Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 1210 Brussels

Start: 13.30 on 26 November 2009

End: 13.30 on 27 November 2009

for meeting documents and follow-up click here

EPSU invites you to participate in a European Waste Conference on 26-27 November 2009 in Brussels.

Background

The European Waste sector is going through many changes. The European Waste Framework Directive was adopted in 2007 and is being implemented leading to changes in company behaviour. The economic crisis hits the sector hard with reduced waste streams and several companies cutting back on work force. On the other hand it is argued including in the European Commission's Skills studies that there is a potential for employment growth in the sector.

European Works Councils representing workers in the waste sector are faced with competition, long working hours, employers that leave national agreements and the consequences of the economic crisis. A process of consolidation is taking place and including through private equity companies.

The European Foundation of Living and Working Conditions and the European Health and Safety Agency have identified a large number of problems in the waste sector with new (risky) substances.

These developments raise questions as to the role of the EWC and its members as well as for the trade unions organising workers in the waste industry.

Objectives

The objectives of the workshop are:

Strengthening of cooperation between workers' representatives
Contributing to a better understanding of the role of a European Works Council and its possibilities (and limitations);
Informing EWC representatives and trade union officers of the new EWC Directive and possible changes
Reporting on experience/effectiveness of existing EWCs and best practice development;
Anticipation of change and resolution of conflicts in a very competitive environment;
Recruitment and organising workers.

The meeting will also be the occasion to discuss the sections on the waste sector of the EPSU Congress resolution

Targeting more companies to establish a European Woks Council
Considering a European Social Dialogue for the Waste sector
Reflecting on a European Day of Action to stop cut throat procurement and work towards decent working conditions.

We expect as impact:

an increase in the number of EWCs in the waste companies that are eligible for an EWC
Better cooperation between trade unions and workers' representatives in the waste sector, possibly through the establishment of a waste contact list.

Practical Details

We would particularly encourage affiliates to help us improve the gender balance at this event by nominating women delegates.

Languages for the seminar

Active: French, German, English, Italian, Romanian Passive: Danish, Swedish, Dutch, Spanish

The Conference will take place in the Auditorium of the International Trade Union House, 5 Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 1210 Brussels, starting at 13.30 26th November and ending at 13.30 on 27th November.

Unions are expected to cover travel and accommodation expenses of their participants.

European Commission funding means that financial assistance is available for a limited number of delegates from the European Union and Candidate Countries. Please see the note below explaining this. Preference is given to colleagues from New Member States and to EWC representatives

A hotel list offering preferential tariffs to EPSU / ETUC is attached.

A follow up meeting is foreseen for 16 March 2010.

Please return the enclosed participation form to the EPSU Secretariat by 1 November 2009 at the latest. Thank you.


Invitation - FR


Einladung - DE

for meeting documents click here

Participation form


PART FORM

List of hotels and an area map


hotels 2009


map ITUH

Organised with the financial support of the European Commission

Italian waste strike a major success

epsuadmin — 2009-11-03T11:14:07Z

Update:

(18 November 2009)

The Italian unions organizing in the waste sector including EPSU affiliate CGIL-FP achieved a major success in their protest against the reforms of the government in the waste sector, 18 November 2009. With total or near stoppages of work in all regions, the unions are giving a strong signal to the government that the restructuring and privatization of the waste sector and companies does not have the support of workers.


Communicato stampa

Italian unions announce national strike in the waste sector, 18 November 2009

(3 November 2009) Italian unions including EPSU affiliated union CGIL-FP have announced a national strike in the waste sector for 18 November. The joint action by the unions of CGIL, CISL and UIL is to protest government plans for the sector which will lead to privatisation or some form of public private partnership with at least a 40% share going to the private sector. The implications are that there will be very few services that will continue to be run by in-house providers. Apart from the likely impact on pay and conditions, the unions are worried about the effect of the reforms on environmental policies and the quality of service.

To read more please the joint press release:


Sciopero Nazionale


Sciopero Nazionale

Or the website: http://www.fpcgil.it

Social dimension of Bio-waste needs to be addressed by Commission

catherine — 2009-06-30T14:49:57Z

(30 June 2009) The Council of Ministers for the Environment adopted conclusions on the Green Paper on Bio-waste. EPSU sent a letter to the European Commission to support the conclusions of the Council and in particular the need to consider the social implications of any initiatives on health and safety and employment.

For the letter:


EPSU letter

The Council conclusions (in particular point 7)

SITA workers in Bristol take industrial action

catherine — 2009-05-26T14:58:03Z

Workers of SITA, the waste management arm of Gdf-Suez, and organized by EPSU affiliated union UNITE decided to take industrial action following overwhelming support in a ballot. The workers have been operating according to rule and will take the next step 27 May. The conflict is over pay. Since November 2007 workers have not received a pay increase. Management has been delaying a pay agreement since November 2008 and is now arguing that due to the financial crisis it can not afford to pay more then a modest increase. It amounts to a pay cut. The company however has obtained a considerable profit margin on its contract with the City Council which will be paid out despite the financial crisis. Also at another site (Kirklees) of SITA workers are balloting over similar issues.

EPSU has sent a message of solidarity to the striking workers. To read the posters :


Poster 1


Poster 2

Verdi and employers reach minimum wage for the waste sector in Germany

catherine — 2009-01-19T09:16:40Z

(19 January 2009) After many years of campaigning, including 'overtime kills' and 'black book' campaigns which demonstrated that wage dumping leads to fatal and other accidents and exploitation Verdi and the employers (private sector and municipal) have now reached agreement over a minimum wage in the waste sector that will apply to all workers also of those employers that are not part of the employers organisation. Germany does not have a legal minimum wage and Verdi and other German unions are campaigning for that as well.

Read the Press Release (DE):

Ver- und Entsorgung

Mindestlohn für die Abfallwirtschaft vereinbart

12. Januar 2009

Die Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (ver.di) und die Arbeitgeberverbände VKA (Vereinigung der kommunalen Arbeitgeberverbände) und BDE (Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungswirtschaft) haben sich heute auf einen Mindestlohn für die Abfallwirtschaft geeinigt und das Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales darüber informiert. Die Einigung konnte in letzter Minute vor der Sitzung des Koalitionsausschusses getroffen werden, der heute Nachmittag über die Aufnahme der Branchen in das Arbeitnehmerentsendegesetz entscheiden wird.

„Mit unserer Einigung im Bereich der Abfallwirtschaft ist es gelungen, eine Branche einzubeziehen, die weit über 130.000 Beschäftigte umfasst“, betonte ver.di-Bundesvorstandsmitglied Erhard Ott. „Damit werden zukünftig alle die Beschäftigten vom Mindestlohn profitieren können, deren Arbeitgeber bisher nicht tarifgebunden sind und den Wettbewerb in der Branche bislang mit Dumpinglöhnen betreiben.“ Sobald das Ministerium eine Verordnung nach dem Arbeitnehmer-Entsendegesetz erlasse, werde fortan allen Beschäftigten in der Entsorgungswirtschaft ein Stundenlohn von mindestens 8,02 Euro zustehen.

„Damit soll es gelingen, die bestehenden Schmuddelecken in der Branche weitestgehend einzudämmen und sicherzustellen, dass Beschäftigte aus der Müllbranche ein Einkommen erhalten, von dem sie sich und ihre Familie ernähren können“, so Ott weiter. Beschäftigte, die aufgrund Tarifbindung einen höheren Stundenlohn erhalten, würden von der Vereinbarung selbstverständlich unberührt bleiben, erklärte Ott.

Mit dem Tarifvertrag sei es gelungen, weit über 20 Prozent der Beschäftigten in der Branche bessere Löhne zu garantieren. Insbesondere die hohe Zahl der Leiharbeitnehmer, die bislang häufig mit Dumpinglöhnen zwischen vier und sieben Euro abgespeist wurden, würden vom Mindestlohn profitieren. Die Tarifvertragsparteien hätten mit ihrer Vereinbarung, die ab 1. Mai 2009 gelte, ein deutliches Signal gegen einen Wettbewerb zu Dumpinglöhnen gesetzt. Zukünftig müssten insbesondere auch in der privaten Abfallwirtschaft höhere Löhne gezahlt werden.

Für Rückfragen: Ellen Naumann 0175/ 5871637

Herausgeber:

V.i.S.d.P.: Martina Sönnichsen ver.di-Bundesvorstand Paula-Thiede-Ufer 10 10179 Berlin Tel.: 030/6956-1011 bzw. -1012 Fax: 030/6956-3001 E-Mail: pressestelle@verdi.de

European Parliament adopts Waste Directive: qualified staff needed for hazardous waste treatment

catherine — 2008-06-18T07:35:43Z

(Brussels, 18 June 2008) The plenary of the European parliament voted on the amendments to the waste directive. It sets tough targets in a number of areas, establishes the waste hierarchy and demands binding national programmes on waste. Waste energy is seen as recovery under strict efficiency rules. Many of the positions reflect the position of EPSU although targets could have been stricter on some categories of waste and waste prevention. EPSU also welcomes that the EP treats hazardous waste separately and links it with risks for human health and safety and adequate training and qualifications. To read more:

Press Service - European Parliament

Green light for a new EU waste legislation

17.06.2008 The EU will be given a new waste legislation which includes targets for re-use and recycling of waste to be attained by 2020, according to a second reading agreement with Council. The directive lays down rules on recycling and requires Member States to draw up binding national programmes for waste prevention. Waste prevention targets will be considered by the Commission in the future. Incineration of waste will be categorised as recovery operation rather than disposal, provided it meets a certain energy efficiency standard.

The Compromise adopted today by the European Parliament sets the definitions and ground rules for all the other pieces of EU legislation relative to waste - it therefore has a direct or indirect impact on them all.

In yesterdays debate Parliaments rapporteur Caroline Jackson (EPP-ED, UK) commented: "It has been a long and tortuous road to this second reading. There was much resistance to what we wanted to do and the Council drove a very hard bargain... That is the best deal available. Anyone who thinks that we could get anything better by going to conciliation would be deceiving themselves."

Mrs Jackson listed the Parliaments achievements: "We have added recycling targets to the text. This is a very significant achievement since they were not in the original proposal...We have added new provisions on the prevention of waste ... We have firmly placed the waste hierarchy in EU law for the first time... We have secured agreement to better emphasis on hazardous waste management...We have also ensured that priority will continue to be given to the regeneration of waste oils.. and We got agreement to the insertion of a new article on bio waste. . "

The compromise was supported by many speakers during yesterday's debate though several speakers would have liked to achieve more. Several MEPs were unhappy that the compromise was too weak and criticized that no binding waste prevention target is included or would have preferred to have even tougher targets for recycling and re-use.

Inclusion of targets for re-use and recycling

MEPs managed in including in the directive a new article on re-use and recycling targets, which was foreseen neither by the original Commissions' proposal nor by the Common Position. The Compromise states that Member states "shall take the necessary measures designed to achieve the following targets":

by 2020 for re-use and recycling of waste materials such as paper, metal glass from households and similar waste streams: 50 %

by 2020 for non hazardous construction and demolition waste: 70 %

In yesterdays debate Comissioner Dimas underlined that "it was hard to persuade the Member States for objectives". Answering several MEPs who criticized the targets for being too weak, he confirmed that "If these targets are not met in 2020, the Commission can take Member States to court for non-compliance with the requirements of the Directive."

A special target for manufacturing and industrial waste, as demanded by MEPs is not included in the compromise but the Commission has to examine the targets by 2020 and eventually reinforce them or consider setting targets for other waste streams. (amendment:127)

Waste prevention is reinforced - targets to be considered in the future

The new directive will oblige Member States to establish waste management plans (article 25) and waste prevention programmes with waste prevention objectives 5 years after entry into force of the directive (article 26). Further to this duty the compromise includes a new article on waste prevention. The Commission shall propose - if appropriate - by end 2014 the setting of waste prevention and decoupling objectives for 2020 (amd125).

Incineration

For MEPs, a crucial aim is to reduce the amount of landfill and incineration, both of which cause pollution. Members were divided over whether incineration of municipal solid waste should be regarded as a "disposal" or a "recovery" operation, the latter one being a better option regarding the waste hierarchy. In todays vote they backed the Commission and Council position that it should be categorised as recovery, provided it meets a certain energy efficiency standard (energy efficiency formula in annex II to the directive). According to the Commission this has the effect that only the most energy efficient existing municipal solid waste incinerators will be classified as recovery installations.

In yesterday's debate, Mrs Jackson commented "This is a positive incentive to incinerator operators to reach high standards and we would do well to remember, in these fuel poor days, that waste can be a useful fuel. But it is important to recognise that the Parliament has now ensured, by writing in targets for recycling and emphasising waste prevention objectives, that incineration of residual waste will HAVE to go hand in hand with recycling."

MEPs also managed to include a revision after 6 years of the energy efficiency provisions into the compromise (amendment 140).

Member States to stick to binding five-stage hierarchy

The five-stage waste hierarchy, which is designed to prevent and reduce waste production, is made more certain and comprehensive and moved to a more prominent place. The hierarchy lays down an order of preference for waste operations: prevention, re-use, recycling, other recovery operations and, as a last resort, safe and environmentally sound disposal. Member States shall treat it "as a priority order", in waste prevention and management legislation rather than as a "guiding principle" as proposed by Council. Departing from the hierarchy may be possible where it is justified by "life cycle" thinking on the overall impacts of the generation and management of such waste (amd 117, 129).

The directive includes furthermore a definition on by-products (article 4) and of the "end-of-waste" status (article 5). It introduces an extended producer responsibility (Article 7) and asks Member States to take measures to encourage the separate collection of bio-waste (article 19).

Some figures

The 1.8 billion tonnes of waste generated each year in Europe works out at 3.5 tonnes per person. This consists mainly of waste from households, commercial activities (e.g., shops, restaurants, hospitals etc.), industry (e.g. pharmaceutical companies, clothes manufacturers etc.), agriculture (e.g. slurry), construction and demolition projects, mining and quarrying activities and from energy generation.

Municipal waste generation averages 530kg per person per year, an average that masks significant differences among Member States. For example, per capita waste generation is 300 to 350 kg per annum in the EU-10 Member States, but around 570 kg in the EU-15.

In 2005, 49% of EU municipal waste was disposed of through landfill, 18% was incinerated and 27% recycled or composted.

Contact:

Constanze BECKERHOFF

Press Service - European Parliament

envi-press@europarl.eu.int

(33-3) 388 1 73780 (Str)

(32) 498 98 35 50

(32-2) 28 44302 (BXL)

European Environment Agency publishes briefing on reduction of CO2 emissions of municipal waste

epsuadmin — 2008-02-14T11:53:25Z

(14 february 2008) The EEA briefing estimates that volumes of waste will grow. The environmental effects can be dealt with through diverting from landfill to re-use and recycling of waste. It does see a role for incinerator with recovery of heat, but limiting and avoiding waste provides the best opportunities for reducing CO2 emissions from waste. The briefing is avaiable in 26 languages. http://reports.eea.europa.eu/briefing_2008_1/en/