This document discusses OECD's work on improving environmental information systems to support waste and plastics management policies. It notes that effective data collection and harmonized indicators are needed as an evidence base for policymaking. However, waste data can be estimated inaccurately and measurement scopes differ between countries. Specific challenges include accounting for illegally dumped or informally managed waste. The document provides lessons from OECD's work, including the need for coordinated data collection, transparent methods, continuity over time, and expanding monitoring progressively. Effective monitoring of plastics requires data on the full value chain from production to environmental impacts.

1. Toward more effective information systems to support
waste and plastics management
3rd Regional Ocean Policy Dialogue - Session 1
Bali, Indonesia – 3-4 May 2023
Myriam Linster
OECD Environment Directorate

2. Session 1
Data
Indicators
Reporting
• The factual foundation for evidence-based policy work
• OECD work initiated in the 1970s
• Provides harmonised information base for OECD policy work
• Promotes a comprehensive approach to environmental information considering the entire information chain
• Evolved with policy priorities and information demand
• OECD legal acts - Recommendations by the OECD Council
• Environmental Information and Reporting (2022) (OECD/LEGAL/0471)
• Material flows and Resource Productivity (2004, 2008)
• Open to adherence by all countries
• Global coherence: international co-operation and joint work
2
OECD work on environmental information and reporting

3. Session 1
Data
Indicators
Reporting
• Regular data collection, harmonisation and analyses
• Data and indicators used in country reviews and policy analysis
– Feedback on data quality and policy relevance
• 40 years of advances and harmonisation efforts
– Yet, monitoring waste management and the associated material flows remains a
challenge in many countries
– Available data are not sufficient for effectively supporting national policies and
international work
3
OECD work on waste data and indicators

4. Session 1
Data
Indicators
Reporting
• Many waste data are estimated and more or less accurate
– Measurement scope and estimation methods differ and change over time
– Depend on national waste management laws, policies and practices
• The type of waste and materials covered differs
• The way treatment and disposal are measured differs
• Particular issues arise for waste not monitored through official channels
– Illegal dumping
– Waste collected, managed outside the formal sector: informal waste pickers and
recyclers (important for metals, plastics)
• The move towards preventive and integrated management approaches and a
circular economy creates new measurement challenges
4
Measurement challenges and data quality

5. Session 1
Data
Indicators
Reporting
5
Some lessons from OECD work (1)
What is key?
Cost effectiveness of the information system
Proper institutional arrangements and coordination – Co-ordination and coherence
Environment ministries Government agencies National Statistical Offices
National and sub-national levels
Private sector, industry associations, academia, NGOs
Horizontal
Vertical
Stakeholders
Transparent data collection & validation methods
• Proper documentation of the data
• Coherence with international work
Continuity and coherence over time
→ monitor the effects of policies
• Proper and continued funding
• Continuous training and capacity building
Effective collection processes

6. Session 1
Data
Indicators
Reporting
• A framework for an integrated national waste information system
• Considering all important aspects and the full information chain
• Considering data on waste and material flows (physical data)
• Complemented with information on policy instruments, expenditure and revenue, cost-recovery, jobs
• Data stored in a centralised database: provides coherent data for different purposes: national, international
• Monitoring to evolve with advances in waste management policies
• Waste management plans, standards, targets
• Waste separation at source and separate collection standards and targets
• Integration of informal activities into formal waste management systems
• Keep national data needs under review
• Proper dissemination and communication
• Integrated database or repository; user-friendly access
• Indicators to inform policy-makers and the public
• A pragmatic step-wise approach to monitoring
• Consider the country’s starting position and statistical capacity
• Can start modestly with data most needed and available
• Plan for more comprehensive scope from the outset
• Complement regular data collection with ad-hoc studies (informal sector; specific materials)
• Expand monitoring progressively 6
Some lessons from OECD work (2)
What is needed?

7. Session 1
Data
Indicators
Reporting
• Requires information on full value chain: upstream, mid-stream, downstream
– Considering leakages at all stages and pathways in the environment
• Requires dedicated monitoring, case studies, ad-hoc surveys. modelling
– Role of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes
– Role of material flow analysis and mass balances
– Role of earth observation
• Requires practical guidance, harmonised methodologies and metrics 7
The case of plastics
• By type, by polymer
• By application
• Exports/imports
Plastics
production
• By type
• By application
• By product
• Sales
Plastics use • Generation, collection,
recycling, disposal
• Exports/imports
• Mismanagement, littering
Plastic waste
• Rivers
• Ocean
• Soil
Plastics in the
environment
Policy measures, incentives, costs, expenditure

8. Thank you
for your attention!
Myriam.linster@oecd.org