Recyclers call for ambition in EU waste targets

The Resource Association has urged the European Union to be more ambitious in setting new targets for recycling and landfill diversion, in its response to the EUs consultation on existing waste targets.

In its response to the EUs consultation on amending existing waste targets, which closes today (September 10), the Association representing the UK reprocessing sector said that new targets needed to be set alongside a consistent approach to data recording across the continent.

And, the group acknowledged that while there is currently a disparity in recycling rates across Europe, with some newer EU Member States still largely dependant on landfill, a more sophisticated approach would need to be developed to help improve recycling infrastructure across the continent.

The Resource Associations view is at odds with that of the waste management sector trade body the Environmental Services Association (ESA), which yesterday said that given the disparity in performance among current Member States, it would not be advisable to significantly raise existing targets (see letsrecycle.com story).

However, the Resource Association has argued that a multi layered approach to target setting would be needed to allow for the different starting points of Member States.

‘Ambition’

In its response the group said: We support a broadly more ambitious approach to the setting of targets in the EU, but importantly this must be set alongside an urgent need to standardise the use of data and definitions across the EU so that there is consistency and a level playing field in interpretation.

In addition, while we support ambition for the whole of the EU, it must be realistic to develop a more sophisticated approach that recognises the starting point of many (especially newer) EU Member States who are presently very dependent on landfill and have very limited recycling infrastructure.

A multi-layered approach to target setting and improvement from baseline would surely be more realistic and give all Member States a full and fair stake in our overall resource efficiency objectives.

The group has also called for greater impetus from the EU to develop an industrial strategy that offers incentives for the use of recyclate by manufacturers.

It added: Without this, higher targets will be very difficult to achieve and not based on any sensible future reality – the two approaches must go hand in hand – higher targets and eco-industrial strategy. This will set us firmly on the path to the resource efficient Europe that the Commission set out so clearly in its Roadmap and which we continue to support.”

Consultation

The consultation, which began in June, is being headed by UK-based waste consultancy Eunomia, with stakeholders asked their views on the targets set out in the Waste Framework, Landfill and Packaging and Packaging Waste Directives, as well as whether there should be a maximum level of incineration for different waste streams.

From the consultation results, Eunomia will establish a number of preferred options which will be subject to detailed analysis, due to be completed in spring 2014.

The Resource Association was set up in November 2011, with the aim of giving a voice to members of the reprocessing and recycling industry. It was formed by a group of organisations from across the reprocessing sector, including Scottish recycling charity Alloa Community Enterprises, packaging producer Huhtamaki (UK) Ltd, May Gurney Ltd and Somerset Waste Partnership.