Since 2021, it has been possible to procure waste management services more sustainably using CE Delft’s ‘Sustainable Procurement of Waste Methodology, 2021‘ (only available in Dutch) update. Many municipalities and municipal partnerships make use of this methodology. It takes into account differences in energy efficiency and material recovery. However, until now only a single key figure was available for waste transport, and only for transport by lorry. This is despite the fact that transporting waste by inland waterways or rail offers clear sustainability advantages compared with road transport. In terms of CO₂ emissions, the advantage can often be as much as a factor of four.
Commissioned by the Province of South Holland, and in consultation with the Top Sector Logistics and a number of municipalities, CE Delft has therefore developed an addendum to the existing methodology over the past few months. This addendum provides additional key figures for transport by inland waterway and by rail, as well as key figures for different fuels and for electric transport. The new key figures align well with the existing methodology.
This project forms part of the ‘South Holland transport by inland shipping programme’ of the Province of South Holland and the Top Sector Logistics, which aims to shift more freight transport to inland shipping in order to reduce CO₂ emissions and congestion.