Application of organic wastes to soils and legislative intricacies in a circular economy context

O Arias,J A Pulgar,M Soto

doi:10.1007/s10098-022-02293-2

Abstract

Currently, the absence of specific regulations on soil fertilization gives rise to sectorial normative with different regional approaches regarding application conditions, quality and other conditions that reused materials must meet. The purpose of this case study in Galicia (NW Spain) is to analyse the coherence of legal texts in the application of organic waste in soils regarding a more circular economy. The context of the case study is characterized by several Directives such as the Nitrates Directive or the "out of date" Directive on sewage sludge, among others, the lack of soil quality protection regulations and the existence of different administrative levels (European Union, Member State and Region). Manures and other agriculture wastes represent the main source of wastes being vastly applied to soils without previous treatment. Other waste streams (i.e. industrial biowaste, municipal biowaste and sewage sludge) undergo treatment generating commercial fertilizers, biostabilized wastes, technosols and waste-treated products that are subject to different standards. The screening of regulations and scientific literature detected limiting situations in the recycling of organic wastes due to natural or legal issues. On the other hand, risky applications are identified due to the lack of quality requirements for waste-treated products under regional legislation, or no mandatory compliance with codes of good agricultural practices for manures and waste-treated products. Contradictory situations of legal regulations and other issues were outlined and discussed. Final considerations were outlined to promote a more effective recycling of organic wastes and the design of a suitable legislation adapted to the natural conditions of the region.Graphical abstract

Highlights

IntroductionUnder an expected demographic scenario of nearly 10 billion in 2050, human activities are susceptible to cause unacceptable environmental change with the risk of crossing and, with uncertain consequences, various planet boundaries (Rockström et al 2009)
Under an expected demographic scenario of nearly 10 billion in 2050, human activities are susceptible to cause unacceptable environmental change with the risk of crossing and, with uncertain consequences, various planet boundaries (Rockström et al 2009).In the last decades, a broad range of environmental policies and normative documents were developed in Europe aiming to protect nature and prevent human activities from crossing these biophysical boundaries highlighted by Rockström et al (2009)
The analysis shows that legislation should make profit of the scientific evidence carried out in the region with positive results in the recycling of wastes with no previous treatment on soils, promoting their recycling

Summary

Introduction

Under an expected demographic scenario of nearly 10 billion in 2050, human activities are susceptible to cause unacceptable environmental change with the risk of crossing and, with uncertain consequences, various planet boundaries (Rockström et al 2009). A broad range of environmental policies and normative documents were developed in Europe aiming to protect nature and prevent human activities from crossing these biophysical boundaries highlighted by Rockström et al (2009). Research on practical cases at the regional level remains underexplored and deeper discussions are required on the challenges that circularity presents to enable CE to be performed in realworld systems (Vanhamäki et al 2020). Different authors provided an overview of this regional circular transition, case of Emilia-Romagna in Italy (Sani et al 2021) or Päijät-Häme in Finland (Sani et al 2021; Vanhamäki et al 2020)

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