European Commission dilutes circular economy package?

November 27, 2015

A leaked draft of the waste rules that form part of the upcoming package suggest a number of countries will be given five extra years to reach the 65 percent recycling target.

The document says that “by 2030, the preparing for re-use and the recycling of municipal waste shall be increased to a minimum of 65 percent by weight”, yet it also grants half a decade longer for Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Malta, Romania and Slovakia to hit the target, EU Observer reported.

This is despite the original proposal that was published in July 2014 under Jean-Claude Juncker’s leadership setting a target of 70 percent for 2030, and the Commission’s promise to come back with a “more ambitious” proposal this year.

Should the countries ask for the extension, they would have to reach 50 percent by 2025 and 60 percent in 2030, while 50 percent is the current target set for member states for 2020.

The legislation on biodegradable also seems to have been weakened, as the withdrawn version proposed that EU countries “shall ensure separate collection of bio-waste by 2025,” but it now says that they “shall ensure the separate collection of bio-waste where technically, environmentally and economically practicable and appropriate to ensure the relevant quality standards for compost”, without specifying a year.

The commission is expected to present the new circular economy package on 2 December.