14 August 2017: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has released draft specifications for the application of the UN Framework Classification of Resources (UNFC) for public comment to facilitate the assessment of waste materials for recycling and re-use.

Human production and consumption activities, such as the extraction of mineral and energy resources, are often associated with the production of residual materials commonly referred to as waste. Many of those materials could provide additional energy or raw materials for other activities, however doing so is often obstructed through regulations that make it difficult to use materials classified as waste for other purposes. The reclassification of waste as ‘anthropogenic’ (human-made) resources could facilitate the recycling and re-use of such residual materials and thus contribute to implementing Sustainable Development Goal 12 (sustainable consumption and production) and its target 12.5 to “by 2030 substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.”

To promote this reclassification, UNECE has developed a document that provides guidance on how to apply the UNFC classification system to anthropogenic resources. The specifications provide directions in assessing residual materials as resources rather than classifying them as waste, including materials that are energy carriers or energy-intensive resources. The application of the specifications therefore has the potential to reduce both waste and identify potentials for additional energy extraction or reducing energy use by avoiding the disposal of valuable materials. The draft specifications are open for public comment until 12 October 2017. [UNECE Press Release][Draft Specifications for the application of the UNFC to Anthropogenic Resources – Public Comment Webpage]