Sustainable Water and Waste Management: Ensuring a Resilient Future
Hungary’s approach to sustainable water and waste management is institutionally secured, with broad technical applications
At a time when the demand for efficient waste management is deafening, Hungary is responding to the demand with a number of innovative approaches. The actions it implements find scope both in terms of the water resources available to the country, as well as in the reduction/recycling of waste, while it promotes an innovative system of active participation in the relevant processes of producers and manufacturers. Let’s see all the details in detail.
Applied practices in Hungary
Every year 2.1 billion tons of waste is produced only in the EU making it absolutely necessary to shift to more sustainable management models, such as the circular economy, recycling, energy production, and minimization of waste disposal in landfills. At the EU level, ambitious targets have been adopted with the question of whether they can be achieved in a specific time.
Hungary, a country in Central Europe, faces significant challenges in the effective management of its water resources and waste, given its geographical location and commitments to European rules.
Hungary’s water resources are strongly determined by the Danube River and its tributaries, which play a central role, while legislative measures and innovative practices have already been adopted. This led to the development of integrated river basin management plans aimed at reducing pollution, conserving water and restoring aquatic ecosystems.
However, agricultural runoff and industrial discharges continue to affect water quality, while climate change poses risks to water availability. To address these issues, Hungary is investing in advanced water treatment technologies and promoting water-saving practices, alongside public awareness campaigns and educational programs.
Waste management has also seen significant improvements, particularly in recycling and waste reduction efforts. A waste hierarchy approach has been implemented in the country, prioritizing waste prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, and recovery. As a result, there are high recycling rates, with substantial improvements in the separation of recyclable materials.
The introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility systems has further contributed to reducing waste. These systems require manufacturers to manage the end-of-life of their products, incentivizing the design of more sustainable products and packaging. In addition, Hungary has invested in waste-to-energy technologies, which help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
In conclusion, Hungary’s approach to sustainable water and waste management is institutionally secured, with broad technical support, while at the same time several innovative companies in the country are involved in environmental projects of various other states having developed important partnerships with large construction companies there.
Source: ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ
