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EU transport rules to bring ‘challenges’, Geminor says

Norwegian waste fuel specialist Geminor claims EU regulations will further reduce transport capacity in Europe, bringing “more challenges” to the recycling industry.

Europe implemented several aspects of the EU's Mobility Package earlier this month

Earlier this month, Europe implemented several aspects of the EU’s Mobility Package, which aims to improve driver’s working conditions, get rid of illegal transport, and create common rules for players in the haulier sector.

Geminor claims the regulations will make transport more expensive and reduce capacity.

Under the regulations, cabotage vehicles are allowed a maximum of three rides in seven days, to be followed by a four-day “cooling period”.

Lorries must return to their country of origin every eight weeks and drivers have the right to return to their home country every four weeks.

Drivers must be allowed to rest outside their vehicle at the expense of their employer.

And, drivers must be paid at least the minimum wage as set in the EU member state where they carry out cabotage, combined, or international cross border transport.

‘Bad news’

Kjetil Vikingstad, Geminor’s CEO, questioned the timing of the EU’s Mobility Package’s introduction.

Kjetil Vikingstad is Geminor’s CEO

He said: “At the moment, the transport industry is affected by a dramatic shortage of both drivers and vehicles throughout Europe.

“In addition, fuel prices have skyrocketed, and if you add the Covid challenges, road transport services are becoming both scarce and expensive.”

Mr Vikingstad said the regulations were “bad news” for the sector and many waste management companies would have to “evaluate their operations” if challenges within transport persisted.

“Many players in the waste and recycling industries work according to the ‘just-in-time’ principle and are thus dependent on precise and predictable transport services,” he said.

He added: “The transport challenges we see today, which are growing because of measures such as the EU’s Mobility Package, may in time lead us towards more national deposit of waste resources and less export activity.”

Norway

Established in Norway in 2004, Geminor has logistic hubs and offices in Scandinavia, Finland, the UK, Germany, France, Poland, and Italy, and employs more than 80 people.

The company says it handled 1.73 million tonnes of feedstock in 2021 and holds contracts with more than 350 waste producers and 180 energy from waste and recycling facilities.

Earlier this month, Geminor said it now supplied as much waste to the UK’s domestic market as it exports after signing a haulage deal with Swansea council (see letsrecycle.com story).

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