MEPs propose measures to boost recycling rates

These were among the proposals in a resolution approved by MEPs at a plenary session last Thursday (February 2) highlighting areas in which the European Parliament believes that waste management could be improved.

Colour-coding

Under the proposals adopted by the European Parliament are the plans to adopt a standardised colour-coding of different categories of waste which it is hoped will improve the publics understanding of waste streams and recyclable materials and thereby boost recycling performance among member states.

The resolution proposes: that a common EU standard for colour-coding categories of waste for sorting and recycling be agreed so as to facilitate and improve citizens’ participation in and understanding of the waste process, and considers that this may assist Member States’ efforts to increase recycling rates significantly and quickly.

The document also suggests that the European Commission should develop clearer and more specific criteria for the location of landfills, and their proximity to houses, schools or hospitals to reduce potential risks to public health and the environment.

As yet, further details of the proposals are unavailable, but the resolution will be discussed further by the European Commission.

Petitions

The resolution was passed in response to 114 complaints raised by EU citizens to the European Petitions Committee between 2004 and 2010 alleging that member states have been in breach of the EU law relating to waste treatment. A number of these concerns relate to the UK, said to have been the subject of between 3-10 complaints.

Of the petitions received by the committee 40% concern the permitting procedure for new waste management facilities, while another 40% relate to the operation of existing facilities, 75% of which are landfill sites.

MEPs voted on the proposals during a plenary session at the parliament last Thursday (February 2) which was passed with 632 votes in favour, 18 against and 22 absentions.

Rapporteur Carlos Iturgaiz speaking in a debate before the vote, said: We have got homework to do in this field, we really have to remain vigilant and ensure that EU legislation is properly implemented by member states. This problem is caused by the inability of public authorities of many EU countries to deal in a satisfactory way with the problem of waste management.

MEPs also urged member states to ensure that they are compliant with the terms of the revised Waste Framework Directive (WFD), after revealing that only 6 countries met the December 2010 deadline to comply with the regulations.

Deadline

The UK was among the countries that did not meet the deadline to transpose the terms of the WFD into domestic law, causing the European Commission to issue a formal letter of notice to the UK in January 2011, along with 22 other member states. The final piece of legislation that completed the transposition of the WFD was brought into effect in the UK in April 2011.

According to a statement released by the Parliament last Thursday (February 2), reasons that some Member States have failed to comply with the regulations included a lack of properly trained staff at local and regional level; failure to allocate enough resources as well as a fine system; and, lack of proper controls at EU level.

Among the countries that failed to meet the deadline was Germany, which is still yet to completely transpose the WFD into law. The European Commission has given Germany two months to ensure it is compliant, or the country could be referred to the EU Court of Justice and face financial penalties.