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FEAD calls for a Circular Material Use Act

The Federation of European Waste Management and Environmental Services (FEAD) has released its manifesto today (8 May), advocating for a Circular Material Use Act (CMUA) as part of a European Industrial Deal. 

This legislation aims to change the way materials are consumed, disposed and reused across Europe. 

The CMUA proposes two legally binding clauses: 

  • Circular material use rate targets: These include aiming for a 25% circular material use rate by 2030, 30% by 2040, and 35% by 2050 
  • Recycling targets: Aiming for a recycling rate of 75% for all waste materials in the EU by 2035 

Themes

To encourage manufacturers to prioritise recycled materials, the act suggests incentives and sets legally binding targets to increase the use of recycled content in key sectors. Moreover, it stresses the significance of European self-sufficiency in resource supply, striving to source and recycle materials within the EU whenever feasible. 

Climate change mitigation is also a central theme, with the CMUA recognising waste management’s potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, FEAD stresses the importance of maintaining a “fair and competitive market for waste management” for the CMUA’s success. 

The act calls for transparency and equal treatment of public and private entities, while also emphasising the necessity for enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with waste management legislation across all EU member states. 

Function 

FEAD president, Claudia Mensi, said: “For the circular economy to function, there needs to be a constant demand for recycled materials that compete with the quality standards and prices of virgin materials.” 

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