The waste paper sector has been divided by the End of Waste criteria for paper with a welcome for the proposed legislation from merchants but stinging criticism from mill operators.
The merchants, represented by the European Recovered Paper Association (EPRA), are in favour of the European Commissions proposals which plan to move the point at which paper ceases to be a waste from its current position at the paper mill to an earlier stage in the collection and sorting process.
However, the paper mills, represented by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), are opposed to the criteria. CEPI believes changing the point at which the material ceases to be a waste means recycled paper would be unusable without further processing and could lead to a reduction in quality and recycling rates.
The draft legislation was this week passed on by the Council of Ministers and will now continue through the legislative process , including being heard in the European Parliament. If the criteria are adopted, the regulation under which it falls would apply from January 1 2014.
The criteria would allow merchants to have greater control over the quality of the material, which until now has been defined by the mills.
Some believe that one factor behind the mills opposition to the legislation is that its adoption could lead to financial losses for them. One suggestion is that the mills, particularly those on the continent, could see subsidies removed or reduced if they stop using waste paper because the paper would no longer be classified as waste. However, mills are under no obligation to stop accepting waste paper under the criteria and could potentially bypass merchants or still buy waste paper from the merchants who will not be forced to sign up to the changed rules and its new waste demarcation point.
Benefits
EPRA which represents the national recovered paper federations of EU countries said there are a number of benefits to the criteria. The Association believes the legislation is important to the whole recycling sector providing internal market advantages and encourages a high level of recycling. It adds that the legislation alleviates administrative costs associated with intra-waste shipments and allows companies that sort the wastes to set the quality criteria.
“These pieces of legislation, and there is no doubt about it, have promoted a high quality of recycling. Just look at the criteria. They are at the upper end because they went to ensure they pose no risk to human health and the environment.”
Ross Bartley, ERPA
However there is a trade off financially for merchants. While they are freed from the burden of waste shipment laws, there is a cost associated with meeting the End of Waste criteria.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com today (September 13) Ross Bartley, environmental and technical officer at ERPA, said the criteria promote high quality material: These pieces of legislation, and there is no doubt about it, have promoted a high quality of recycling. Just look at the criteria. They are at the upper end because they went to ensure they pose no risk to human health and the environment.
He added: It is very sad when an industry goes against legislation that promotes high quality material and protection of the environment. It is such as shame.
Opposition
Demonstrating the level of opposition to the plans, CEPI created a barricade paper bales outside the Commissions headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday (September 11).
Jori Ringman, recycling and environment director for CEPI, told letsrecycle.com that CEPI had a number of concerns about the Commissions plans.
Mr Ringman said: We believe the point at which paper is no longer waste should be in the pulper. The Commission has never justified why it should be moved and there is definitely no environmental justification for this.
He believes an approach similar to that for the End of Waste criteria for glass should be taken, which states that only glass which is of suitable quality for re-melting into bottles can achieve end of waste status (see letsrecycle.com story).
According to Mr Ringman, the Commission has struggled with the complexities of the criteria however he believes that Europe does need a legislative push to increase recycling rates further upwards. In 2012, 717.7% of paper consumed throughout the continent was recycled, an increase from 50% in 2000 which was achieved through voluntary measures.
On a voluntary basis we have shown what we can do and we are really willing to raise the bar. We need to have some push and support from legislation but this is not happening now and we are in the situation where we [Europe] are champions of the world in paper recycling but we cant do much more as we need legislative support for that. It was an opportunity for the Commission to give this support but they havent, he explained.
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