Consortium for a Coherent European Landfill Management Strategy

Programme 2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-08-23

Description

Description (EN):

Since the 1950s Europe has been disposing vast levels of waste in landfills. Estimates have revealed that 90% of Europe’s 500,000+ landfills are “non-sanitary” landfills, which predate the EU Landfill Directive and have limited environmental protection technologies. The EC has acknowledged that a vision for managing Europe’s landfills is urgently required. Landfills are to be considered as dynamic stocks of resources (landfill gas, water, other) that can be integrated into the economy, while landfill management (LfM) supports reclaiming land and avoids astronomic remediation and aftercare costs. Although many EU regions are already implementing LfM, no targeted, specific European LfM legislation currently exists. Nor are existing Waste Management and Soil Protection policies integrated in an overarching circular economy framework. Therefore, the COCOON objective is to develop, integrate and improve relevant policy instruments, while increasing subsidies through operational programmes (OPs) for LfM projects. COCOON brings together distinct EU regions to share and capitalise on regional good practices. The six targeted policy instruments include (a) the Soil Remediation Decree in Flanders (BE), the Environmental Protection Act in the Netherlands and (b) funding of LfM projects through the OPs in Andalucia (ES), Brandenburg (DE), Cyprus and Malta. As a result of LfM projects, the recovery of resources (landfill gas and water first, other resources later), as well as land recovery is increased while future environmental hazards can be avoided. LfM projects generate economic development opportunities; create new (local) jobs, all within the context of an EU-wide transition to a resilient, low-carbon, circular economy. The governments of the partner regions directly benefit from the improved policy. As LfM contributes to a safe environment and more resource efficiency, other public bodies also benefit from the project, as will companies, knowledge institutes and civilians

Achievements (EN):

In terms of activities, the project has organised a total of 65 policy learning events. It has also identified 59 good practices, produced 6 action plans and led to the increased capacity of 62 people. In terms of results, the project has succeeded in improving 4 regional development policies for a total amount of funds influenced of EUR 3,106,984. 99.

Website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/interreg-europe-2014-2020

Expected Results (EN):

Landfill Management is dedicated to the inventory and management of EU’s 500,000+ landfills, aiming at maximum resource recovery such as land, landfill gas, water and others (e.g. metals). COCOON focuses on enhancing the existing policies (structural funds and legislation) to facilitate the implementation of LfM projects in the partner regions, inspiring the rest of the EU-28. COCOON’s overall objective fully addresses the Interreg Europe topic “environment and resource efficiency” as it avoids present and future environmental hazards, generates (decentralised) economic development opportunities, creates new (local) jobs, within the context of the transition to a resilient, low-carbon, circular economy. This overall objective is supported by two sub-objectives. The first one is to improve the performance of the regional development policy on LfM. As no region has at this moment a dedicated LfM policy in place, COCOON envisages the improvement of the existing soil remediation/environmental policy including regulatory aspects to enforce LfM implementation. The second sub-objective is linked to the improvement of the ERDF operational programmes (OP). Only a limited number of OPs tackle resource efficiency relying on landfill management in their programmes. Partner regions were selected where landfills and their management are mentioned into the OP. The improvement of these OPs is envisaged through new projects supporting LfM applications. Partners have been selected to allow exchange of experience on the LfM related policy frameworks in their regions. Policies and methodologies, which have already proved to be successful and have the potential to be transferred to other geographic areas, will be discussed. By sharing good practices with a view to EU-wide transfer and implementation, regions can accelerate development by leapfrogging, while successful experiences gained in the different regions can be spread throughout Europe.

Expected Outputs (EN):

In order to achieve the project objectives the project aims for the following output (not limitative): • 11 interregional exchange of experience events with on average 15 people, • 1 final high level political dissemination event reaching >100 people in the European Parliament as a follow up of the first ELFM seminar (October 2015) answering key questions with respect to (landfill, soil and waste management) legislation, • 6 regional stakeholder groups uniting 90 people, • 6 regional action plans describing at least 5 relevant actions, • 1 best practices handbook with 25 best practices, • 1 report on the mapping of LfM landfills and policy, • 1 project website visited by at least 8000 visitors, • 60 stakeholder meetings, • 11 steering committees, • 15 EURELCO newsletters with news from COCOON, • 25 press releases, • 8 progress reports to Interreg Europe, • 500 people personally contacted in the framework of this project. Project results The 6 policy instruments are improved (compared to the initial situation) and (partially) implemented and result in an increased number of LfM projects. As a result, the future production of green electricity/heat (from collected and converted landfill gas), drinking water (from treated leachate water), land recovery, and other waste-to-product conversion is increased, while present and future environmental hazards are avoided. Remediation and aftercare costs are limited. LfM projects also generate (decentralised) economic development opportunities, create new (local) jobs, all within the context of an EU-wide transition to a resilient, low-carbon, circular economy. In this regard, implementation of LfM (policy) leads to improved resource efficiency, to a more circular economy, to more innovation, to more job creation and stimulation of SMEs, to smart specialisation, and contributes to the low-carbon economy and many more strategies Europe is aiming for. In a more encompassing, long-term perspective, this project also mobilises the relevant policy experts to co-develop and fully implement a paradigm shift with respect to Europe’s landfill legacy. This implies that Europe’s, both historic and still active, landfills are no longer considered as static, final waste deposits that need to be isolated from the surrounding environment (which is a costly affair) but are reconsidered as dynamic stocks of resources that are prepared and gradually re-integrated in the circular economy thereby drastically limiting remediation and aftercare costs. As a COCOON is the childhood stage of a butterfly at which the beauty of the insect is still invisible, also the value of a landfill as a resource is hidden and has to be discovered, unlocked and unleashed by Landfill Management. Once this potential is demonstrated, landfills will become part of the transition to a environmental friendly, resource efficient, circular economy, instead of being a major environmental, health and financial liability for European countries and regions.

Thematic information

Regional planning and development Waste and pollution

Specific Objective: Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, ETC programmes, aimed at increasing resource-efficiency, green growth and eco-innovation and environmental performance management

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06g) supporting industrial transition towards a resource- efficient economy, promoting green growth, eco-innovation and environmental performance management in the public and private sectors

Partners (8)

Lead Partner: VITO n.v. (until 31-12-2017 vzw i-Cleantech Vlaanderen - innovatie in cleantech)

Department: Cleantech Flanders

Address: Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.cleantechflanders.com

Total budget: EUR 246 372.00

ERDF budget: EUR 209 416.20

WasteServ Malta Ltd

Name: WasteServ Malta Ltd

Department: Strategy Implementation

Address: EcoCentre, Latmija Road, MSK 4613 Marsascala, Malta

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.wasteservmalta.com

Total budget: EUR 73 549.00

ERDF budget: EUR 62 516.65

Τμήμα Περιβάλλοντος, Υπουργείο Γεωργίας, Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Περιβάλλοντος

Name: Τμήμα Περιβάλλοντος, Υπουργείο Γεωργίας, Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Περιβάλλοντος

Address: Department of Environment, 1498 Nicosia, Cyprus

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/environment

Total budget: EUR 76 550.00

ERDF budget: EUR 65 067.50

Environment and Resources Authority

Name: Environment and Resources Authority

Department: Ambient Quality and Waste

Address: Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, MRS 1441 Marsa, Malta

Legal status: public

Website: http://era.org.mt

Total budget: EUR 82 508.00

ERDF budget: EUR 70 131.80

Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffen Maatschappij

Name: Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffen Maatschappij

Address: Stationsstraat 110, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ovam.be

Total budget: EUR 149 385.00

ERDF budget: EUR 126 977.25

Landesamt für Umwelt des Landes Brandenburg

Name: Landesamt für Umwelt des Landes Brandenburg

Department: Department T1, Technical Environment Protection

Address: Seeburger Chaussee 2, 14476 Potsdam, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.mlul.brandenburg.de

Total budget: EUR 163 893.00

ERDF budget: EUR 139 309.05

Rijkswaterstaat

Name: Rijkswaterstaat

Department: Water, Verkeer en Leefomgeving (water, traffic and living environment)

Address: Lange Kleiweg 34, 2288 GK Rijswijk, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.rwsleefomgeving.nl/

Total budget: EUR 233 912.00

ERDF budget: EUR 198 825.20

Saneamientos de Córdoba (SADECO)

Name: Saneamientos de Córdoba (SADECO)

Address: Avenue Medina Azahara 4, 14005 Cordoba, Spain

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.sadeco.es

Total budget: EUR 237 516.00

ERDF budget: EUR 201 888.60

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Consortium for a Coherent European Landfill Management Strategy

Project acronym: COCOON

Project start date: 2017-01-01

Project end date: 2021-12-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 263 685.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 074 132.25

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 074 132.25.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

Action Plan - Brandenburg,German

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/cocoon/

Publication date: 2024-08-26

Document date: 2020-03-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan - Cyprus

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/cocoon/

Publication date: 2024-08-26

Document date: 2019-12-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan - Flanders

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/cocoon/

Publication date: 2024-08-26

Document date: 2020-03-27

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan - Region Netherlands

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/cocoon/

Publication date: 2024-08-26

Document date: 2019-12-05

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan for Malta

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/cocoon/

Publication date: 2024-08-26

Document date: 2019-12-20

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan for the region of Andalusia (Spain)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/cocoon/

Publication date: 2024-08-26

Document date: 2020-01-24

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-10-31

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

258 / 258 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

2 084 / 2 085 (99.95%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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Consortium for a Coherent European Landfill Management Strategy

Description

Thematic information

Partners (8)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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