Circulation: NRW and Flanders want to work together
Recycling instead of throwing away: North Rhine-Westphalia and the Belgian region of Flanders want to work together in the future when it comes to the circular economy. Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and Flemish Minister President Jan Jambon signed a declaration of intent to this effect in Wuppertal on Thursday. Plans include an exchange on pilot projects, scientific cooperation and the development of joint initiatives, according to the State Chancellery. Other regions and countries are to be included in the cooperation in a further step. Jambon described the Netherlands as an "obvious partner for the next phase".
A circular economy is an economy in which existing materials and products are shared, reused, repaired and refurbished for as long as possible. The aim is to reduce waste to a minimum. By contrast, in the so-called linear economy, resources are extracted from the environment, processed into products and later disposed of as emissions in the soil, air and water. The German government is currently developing a "National Circular Economy Strategy". It is intended to bring together goals and measures for the circular economy and resource conservation.
The signing ceremony marked the start of the all-day "Circular Valley Forum" congress, at which more than 800 representatives from business, science and politics discussed the circular economy. The event was organized by the non-profit, state-supported Circular Valley Foundation.
"Far too much waste is still being produced and many valuable resources are still being lost," said Wüst. The circular economy offers immense opportunities on the way to a sustainable and climate-neutral economy. A well-functioning circular economy system is an essential building block for the further development of industrial locations in North Rhine-Westphalia and Flanders. "It helps to increase competitiveness, increase the availability of raw materials and achieve climate targets," continued the Minister President.
The circular economy is no longer a buzzword, said Flemish Minister-President Jambon. "It is a fundamental part of the European Green Deal and a crucial building block on the road to climate neutrality on the European continent by 2050." He emphasized the great experience of the Flemish region: "We can rightly call ourselves European champions in recycling. Around 70 percent of all waste is recycled today," he said in Wuppertal.
After signing the declaration of intent, North Rhine-Westphalia and Flanders agreed to cooperate on reducing climate impact by examining waste management strategies.gleaning valuable insights from Flanders' successful recycling program, which currently recycles over 70% of its waste, could significantly contribute to NRW's waste reduction goals.
Furthermore, collaborating on environmental initiatives could lead to joint efforts in climate change mitigation strategies, embracing both regions' commitment to a circular economy and reducing waste emissions.
Source: www.dpa.com
