The Carl Bro Group, an international consulting company based in Copenhagen, is assisting I/S Vestforbrænding in the development of a new waste management concept. The keywords are dynamism, clarity and digitisation, and the project allows a high degree of citizen participation.

28 municipalities I/S Vestforbrænding, the largest incineration plant in Greater Copenhagen and in charge of reuse and recycling, has set out to develop an approach to help local authorities and citizens with questions concerning waste management.

This is intended to strengthen the existing waste management plans and increase reuse and recycling. 28 municipalities in Greater Copenhagen are participating.

Every four years Denmark‘‘s local authorities have the statutory duty to develop an updated waste management plan. Over the years, it has become somewhat a tradition that I/S Vestforbrænding assists the local authorities in developing these plans. This is also the case in the upcoming period 2005-2008. The cooperation brought along by the network of municialities is regarded as very important to the authorities in lack of experience. "There are many advantages in a common waste management plan, so why not draw on each others‘‘ experience when so many solutions can be shared?" argues Henrik Rasmussen, planner at I/S Vestforbrænding. "A common plan creates more consistent waste management programmes".

Waste management tends to be controlled top down, but in the winter of 2002- 2003, citizens, waste carriers, private companies, and local authorities were invited to give their suggestions to the upcoming plan at four different meetings.

"It has become an issue to get external input as early as possible and not just in the mandatory consultation. The citizens were mostly represented through their commitment in Local Agenda 21 centres", says Henrik Rasmussen, "no doubt, it is the fiery souls that show up at such meetings, and they wish to have greener waste management plans".

The results of the meetings have contributed to the upcoming plan. To begin with, the waste management plans are so-called minimum plans that comply with Danish law, but there are also new elements. One element is the multiple layers of information, where shared knowledge of companies and citizens has been taken into consideration. "It is important to us that knowledge is available to different interest groups and individuals", says Birgitte Fjeldberg, Project Manager at Carl Bro.

Computers have become important tools in knowledge-sharing. "Former plans have, as a whole, been too comprehensive for non-experts. Today, we develop the waste manage- ment plan in different layers, beginning with a summary. Each layer adds new and more detailed knowledge, and everything is available on the Internet in a clear language", says Birgitte Fjeldberg and adds, "everyone interested should be able to participate"