The next stage will be adoption of the revisions by the European Parliament’s Plenary in April, and then by Member States in the European Council, which is most likely to be in June.
Earlier this week, the changes were approved by European ambassadors (see letsrecycle.com story).
Commenting on today’s proceedings, lead MEP Simona Bonafè explained that the changes lay the foundations for future sustainable growth. She said: “After lengthy negotiations with the council, we have succeeded in bringing home a great result that lays new foundations for sustainable European economic and social development. Member states will be obliged to follow clear and common measures on the life cycle of raw materials and waste disposal.”
Before Christmas, member states representatives met with the European Parliament’s representatives under the Estonian presidency and agreed changes to the Waste Framework Directive.
The UK government has indicated that the changes to the framework directive will be implemented post-Brexit, and they are expected to include the revisions to the Waste Framework Directive.
Changes
The target for municipal waste to be recycled will rise to 55% by 2025, from 44% today. The targets will rise to 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035.
The targets were softened slightly after a number of member states, including the UK and some accessions states, had voiced concerns.
Member states should also “endeavour to ensure” that as of 2030, all waste suitable for recycling is not accepted in a landfill. The draft law also limits the share of municipal waste to be landfilled to a maximum of 10% by 2035.
Packaging
For packaging, the new targets state that member states must re-use or recycle 65% of materials by 2025, and 70% by 2030. Specifically, each material will see a 5-10% rise in the targets which it must meet by 2025. Ferrous metals, Aluminium and paper and cardboard will all see a 10% rise, while all other packaging material recycling targets will rise by 5%.
Ms Bonafè added that the package also has a number of other benefits. She said: “In line with the UN’s sustainable development objectives, the package also reduces food waste by 50% and aims for a 65% recycling threshold by all member states.”
The latest statistics available for EU countries shows that in 2014, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden sent virtually no municipal waste to landfill, whereas Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Latvia and Malta still landfill more than three quarters of their municipal waste.
An EU statement read that although waste management in the EU “has improved considerably in recent decades”, almost a third of municipal waste is still landfilled and less than half is recycled or composted, with wide variations between member states.
Subscribe for free