Page 35 - Monaco Economy 119

SMA: “Recycling to Reduce GHG Emissions”

by Milena Radoman

Reducing CO emissions requires better waste management, which means reducing
2
volume and sorting at source.

DON’T
FORGET!

The Mobius
Loop is the
universal recy-
cling symbol,
indicating that a
product has the
characteristics
to be recycled.
This means re-
cycling will be
effective if the
user uses the
correct bin.

This is obvious for a country like Monaco, to a recycling centre; and the rest is made up Bérard, Monégasque households make very
where energy recovery from household waste of biodegradable waste (around 30% peel and few mistakes when recycling. “The contents
represents a third of greenhouse gas emissions food scraps), sanitary textiles (nappies, tissues, of the yellow bins is transported by the SMA to
(GHG). “It is imperative to reduce the incineration paper towels etc) and other non-recyclable waste the SMED sorting centre in Cannes-la-Bocca,
of all plastic packaging to limit emissions of CO2 (source: ADEME 2018). operated by Paprec. According to this centre,
fossil released into the atmosphere. Recycling one of the most efficient in Europe, the refusal
is essential in order to reuse the materials of Department of Urban Planning decision: SMA rate is 15% for our waste, whilst it is 30% for
which a product that has reached the end of its to collect rubbish twice a week France.”
life was composed,” as Marie Bérard, Deputy To intensify the collection of packaging and
Director of Environmental Cleanliness at the optimise selective sorting, the SMA has Another notable change: “Rubbish trucks are
SMA, Monaco’s waste collection and treatment changed things. “Yellow bin collections are now gradually being replaced by electric lorries and
company, reminds us. Today, a household’s bins organised twice a week.” It was necessary to all public collection of recyclable household
are made up of a majority of recyclable waste: intensify collection because behaviours have waste will be carried out by these machines
nearly 40% is waste that can go in the yellow been changing for the better: “The yellow by the end of 2022,” explains Thierry Francart,
bin (paper, cardboard, steel and plastics); 12% bins are overflowing. They now represent the new Director General of the SMA. This is
is glass waste (jars, bottles and pots) that a quantity of 900 tonnes of waste per year. another way to reduce GHG emissions whilst
goes in the green bin; around 10% is specific People are playing the game and sorting providing better working conditions for waste
household waste such as electronic equipment more and this is, more than likely, thanks to collection workers and a better quality of life
or textiles that can go to dedicated terminals or the younger generation.” According to Marie for residents.

33