Various recycling targets have been discussed so far, including aggregate figures of 60% and 55%. Should the 2006 date be adopted, this would be two years earlier than that favoured by the UK government.
The Corbey proposals have been heavily criticised in the past by the UK packaging industry but the vote by MEPs to support the 65% figure is seen as unsurprising. It will eventually be considered by the European Commission before final proposals are presented to ministers who are considering future targets for the directive.
Commenting on the first reading vote yesterday, Ms Corbey explained that her proposals, contained in a report to the Parliament last year, looked to strengthen the European Commission’s approach to packaging and packaging waste and took a “more environmental approach”.
A number of other points were voted on in a complicated set of amendments. Ms Corbey added: “The huge support for my report sends a clear signal that the European Parliament considers that the question of packaging and waste packaging should be treated with a serious and modern approach with firm deadlines for implementation.”
The vote brought reaction from the UK's waste management industry with its trade body, the Environmental Services Association welcoming the increase in the amount of packaging waste to be recycled, but concerned over the position of energy recovery.
The vote saw the recovery target set below that for the minimum amount of packaging recycling confirming expected pressure from the Parliament to reduce the role of the energy recovery route for packaging waste in terms of meeting the requirements of the legislation.
Andrew Ainsworth, ESA's senior policy executive, said: “ESA is concerned that the Parliament's decision to set a minimum recovery target below that of the minimum recycling target effectively squeezes out the option to recover energy from packaging waste. It is vital that the waste management industry is enabled to provide a range of sustainable solutions to manage packaging waste according to the Best Practicable Environmental Option,” he added.
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