National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
J Environ Manage. 2018 Apr 15;212:108-114. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.02.014. Epub 2018 Feb 8.
The ambitions for a circular economy are high and unambiguous, but day-to-day experience shows that the transition still has many difficulties to overcome. One of the current hurdles is the presence of hazardous substances in waste streams that enter or re-enter into the environment or the technosphere. The key question is: do we have the appropriate risk management tools to control any risks that might arise from the re-using and recycling of materials? We present some recent cases that illustrate current practice and complexity in the risk management of newly-formed circular economy chains. We also highlight how separate legal frameworks are still disconnected from each other in these cases, and how circular economy initiatives interlink with the European REACH regulation. Furthermore, we introduce a novel scheme describing how to decide whether a(n)(additional) risk assessment is necessary with regard to the re-use of materials containing hazardous substances. Finally, we present our initial views on new concepts for the fundamental integration of sustainability and safety aspects. These concepts should be the building blocks for the near future shifts in both policy frameworks and voluntary initiatives that support a sound circular economy transition.
循环经济的目标很高且明确，但日常经验表明，转型仍然面临许多困难需要克服。当前的障碍之一是废物流中存在有害物质，这些物质会进入或重新进入环境或技术圈。关键问题是：我们是否有适当的风险管理工具来控制可能因材料的再利用和回收而产生的任何风险？我们提出了一些最近的案例，说明了在新形成的循环经济链的风险管理中当前的实践和复杂性。我们还强调了在这些情况下，单独的法律框架如何仍然彼此脱节，以及循环经济倡议如何与欧洲 REACH 法规相互关联。此外，我们引入了一种新方案，描述了如何决定对于含有有害物质的材料的再利用是否需要进行（额外的）风险评估。最后，我们提出了我们对基本整合可持续性和安全方面的新概念的初步看法。这些概念应该成为未来政策框架和支持健全循环经济转型的自愿倡议转变的基础。
