Urban governance 101
5.5 Analysis: urban waste valorisation as a mission
Addressing the research question presented at the outset of the chapter – How
can the mission of sustainable urban waste treatment be understood in terms of problem
setting and problem solving? – this section will discuss and reflect on the relationship between problem solving and problem setting in the governance of a
mission- oriented innovation endeavour such as urban waste treatment.
5.5.1 What is the mission given – and to whom?
In Oslo, the public agency Energigjenvinningsetaten (EGE) has served as the
main driver and coordinator for developing and implementing the circular
system of processing and recycling the different streams of household waste
generated within the municipality.
The municipality has been central in directing the system towards greater
sustainability by establishing a waste sorting plant, a biogas facility and a waste
incineration and district heating system. The rationale for the circular waste
agenda and for building these facilities was a mandate issued by from the
municipality of Oslo.
The politicians decided in 2006 that they wanted sorting of plastic packaging and food waste from the households, and they decided to have a
50% recycling target.
(Respondent from the Agency for Waste Management in the
City of Oslo)
We got the assignment in 2005–2006 to develop a system for circular
waste recovery in Oslo. Then we built the sorting plant and the biological treatment plant, and the district heating company has developed and
extended the district heating system.
(Respondent from the Agency for Energy Recovery in the City of Oslo)
The initiatives taken to develop a circular recycling system ensured a shift of
focus from energy recovery to recycling, beginning in the early 2000s. Still,
after having arrived at the current recycling system, which is underpinned by
heavy investment in infrastructure and institutions (e.g. the biogas plant, the
sorting plant, the collection of household waste and household routines of
sorting waste), there are few signals that the municipality is taking the lead
with a new waste prevention system. This is not surprising, as the mandate of
the Energy Recovery Department primarily targets an effective exploitation
of the waste generated.
We will sort as much as we possibly can, that is our perspective.
(Respondent from the Agency for Energy Recovery in the
City of Oslo)
5.5 Analysis: urban waste valorisation as a mission
Addressing the research question presented at the outset of the chapter – How
can the mission of sustainable urban waste treatment be understood in terms of problem
setting and problem solving? – this section will discuss and reflect on the relationship between problem solving and problem setting in the governance of a
mission- oriented innovation endeavour such as urban waste treatment.
5.5.1 What is the mission given – and to whom?
In Oslo, the public agency Energigjenvinningsetaten (EGE) has served as the
main driver and coordinator for developing and implementing the circular
system of processing and recycling the different streams of household waste
generated within the municipality.
The municipality has been central in directing the system towards greater
sustainability by establishing a waste sorting plant, a biogas facility and a waste
incineration and district heating system. The rationale for the circular waste
agenda and for building these facilities was a mandate issued by from the
municipality of Oslo.
The politicians decided in 2006 that they wanted sorting of plastic packaging and food waste from the households, and they decided to have a
50% recycling target.
(Respondent from the Agency for Waste Management in the
City of Oslo)
We got the assignment in 2005–2006 to develop a system for circular
waste recovery in Oslo. Then we built the sorting plant and the biological treatment plant, and the district heating company has developed and
extended the district heating system.
(Respondent from the Agency for Energy Recovery in the City of Oslo)
The initiatives taken to develop a circular recycling system ensured a shift of
focus from energy recovery to recycling, beginning in the early 2000s. Still,
after having arrived at the current recycling system, which is underpinned by
heavy investment in infrastructure and institutions (e.g. the biogas plant, the
sorting plant, the collection of household waste and household routines of
sorting waste), there are few signals that the municipality is taking the lead
with a new waste prevention system. This is not surprising, as the mandate of
the Energy Recovery Department primarily targets an effective exploitation
of the waste generated.
We will sort as much as we possibly can, that is our perspective.
(Respondent from the Agency for Energy Recovery in the
City of Oslo)