The Commission vice president, Frans Timmermans, and Commissioner for Jobs and Growth, Jyrki Katiaien will officially unveil the proposals at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday lunchtime, despite rumours that the adoption of the package would be delayed until January.
A Commission source has assured letsrecycle.com that there has been no plan to delay the adoption of the package, but added that the terms of the new proposed legislation have involved input from a wider group of Departments than the original proposals which were adopted and withdrawn in 2014.
The 2014 proposals, which were developed under the leadership of the former Commissioner for the Environment Dr Janez Potocnik, included some resource measures as well as the updating targets and measures outlined in the Waste Framework, Landfill and Packaging and Packaging Waste Directives.
Ecodesign Directive
While the proposals to be unveiled do cover these areas, there is expected to be a focus on wider resource issues, which will be implemented alongside changes to the Ecodesign Directive, bringing in new requirements covering design for recyclability not previously covered by the proposals.
Some of the detail of the updated waste legislation has already been mooted via a series of leaks of drafts versions of the legislation which have emerged in recent weeks. The latest suggest headline figures of a 65% by 2025 municipal waste recycling target, as well as a target for the reduction of waste sent to landfill by 2030.
“Concerns about lack of ‘pull’ measures could be allayed”
Commission source
Brussels
However, the Commission source, who is close to the discussions currently going on in Brussels has told letsrecycle.com that the exact details of the final proposals are yet to be formally agreed between all of the Departments involved in developing the Package, and could still differ from those reported in the press.
Criticism of the leaked proposals to date has centred on the lack of ‘pull measures’ aimed at incentivising the use of recycled materials in products, as well as the seeming ‘lack of ambition’ of the proposals, with some targets having been scaled back in comparison to the 2014 package.
letsrecycle.com understands that there are a number of proposals that have yet to be made public which it is believed may go some way to allay these concerns – although it is likely that a lack of firm statutory requirements in key areas such as food waste reduction will draw criticism from some quarters.
Textiles
Introduction of producer responsibility requirements for the textiles sector is a strong possibility, while similar proposals for furniture are also under consideration.
Food waste reduction targets are likely to feature amongst the proposals, but it is expected that there will be no mandatory requirement for Member States to sign up to any concrete food waste reduction measures. Rather, these will be linked to ‘Sustainable Development Goals’.
The proposals will also look to include measures to encourage Member States to ensure that pricing of waste treatment operations are in line with the waste hierarchy as a means of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill or energy recovery.
While exact details of how this proposal will be borne out in the final package are not clear, it is expected that financial levers such as landfill taxes will be favoured, while deposit return schemes may also feature.
But, it is understood that the Commission is not keen to prescribe the exact measures that Member States should take to push waste up the waste hierarchy, and action in this area will be up to individual governments – with guidance on best practice across the continent likely.
The Commission source added: “The proposals introduce provisions aiming to steer Member States toward the better use of financial instruments.
“Experience at national level shows that use of economic instruments is a key driver and gradual increases in landfill tax have proved to be an effective tool.”
Incinerator Bottom Ash
Finally, there looks to be some clarity on the horizon for the UK over the classification of materials reused from incinerator bottom ash (IBA) as a ‘waste’ or ‘recycled’ output.
The Commission is seeking to harmonise the definitions of waste and methods of reporting of waste activities across Member States as part of its work under the package. New wording of the Waste Framework Directive will allow Member States to ‘take into account recycling of metal that takes place in the course of incineration or certain industrial processes… provided recycled material meets quality criteria.’
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