Editorial by Massimo Medugno, D.G. at Assocarta

New culture and tendering for paper collection

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The tender specifications should ask the collector to guarantee that the collected paper will be recycled in mills covered both by the European Emission Trading system as well as environmental permits for EU mills (Bref) or in non-EU mills that meet equivalent standards.

It should be the consequence of new EU directives on public procurement and concessions entered into force in April 2014.

Public contracts that are covered by the European directives are valued at around € 420 billion, making them a key driver of our economy.

The new rules are interesting for businesses, with the award criteria emphasising quality, environmental considerations, social aspects and innovation.

The new rules make it easier for small and medium-sized firms to bid and include tougher rules on subcontracting.

The adoption of the new directives on public procurement and concessions constitutes a large shift in procurement, as the new rules might open up new opportunities in the single market.

It is now up to all the users, including businesses, to take advantage of the new rules.

For paper recycling in particular, the change of the legal framework could help form a new tendering culture for waste collection in the member states. More specifically, the possibility to introduce criteria of the most economically-advantageous tender instead of the best price improves the functioning of the internal market.

This new process gives the tendering authority the possibility to negotiate and incorporate elements that would otherwise be overlooked.

The Art. 16 of the Italian Law N. 221/2015 indicates in the public evidence procedures the need to take into account the consumption of energy and natural resources (…) with the strategic goal of more efficient use of resources and a circular economy that promotes the environment and employment.

Besides, with regard to export, there are a set of criteria to be observed.

For example, the art. 12 of EU Regulation 1013/2006 on the cross-border movement of waste provides that the recovery operation in the country of destination is carried out in a manner equivalent to those provided by the country of dispatch.

The art. 181 of the Italian Legislative Decree n. 152/2006 provides the free movement of the separate collection waste, but also indicates the purpose of facilitating recovery as a priority by favoring the principle of proximity to recovery facilities.