Model for waste management in Styria

Regional Government of Styria

Austria's high waste management standards forbid the landfill of untreated waste as from 2004. After an isolated planning phase, there is now a complete overview for the ecological and cost-efficient implementation of these requirements in Styria available. Authorities, as the local decision-makers, now have the possibility of selecting their own preferred version, but must take the perspective of the residual waste management for the whole of Styria into account.

This study aims at providing a comparison between basic solutions to the problem by demonstrating six scenarios. Then, by taking the ecological, economic and social aspects (direct impact on employment) into account, scientifically sound foundations for decisions will be worked out. Consideration of these dimensions is the basis for finding a sustainable course for the Styrian waste management.

The flow quantities and all plants associated with residual waste disposal under the regime of the Austrian landfill directive are shown in a calculation model. This allows not only a comprehensible representation of the complex dependencies, but also a later assessment of new scenarios or sub-scenarios. In particular, it is possible to model future developments and to reveal likely effects. Furthermore, this tool can be used to examine whether the expectations or aims will or have been fulfilled. A planned assessment of progress made, can form the basis for further necessary measures in order to avoid problems in the future.