New alterations to the Waste Framework Directive have been unanimously approved by MEPs on the EU Environment Committee, paving the way for EU adoption of the revisions.
According to letsrecycle, “the changes were approved by European ambassadors” and the next step in the proceedings “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.”
MEP Simona Bonafé explained:
“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.”
The changes to the Waste Framework Directive were agreed upon by member states representatives before Christmas 2017, when they met with European Parliament representatives “under the Estonian presidency”.
The UK government has stated it will implement the changes post-Brexit, including the revisions to the Waste Framework Directive.
The alterations that have been made include an increase in the target for recycling of municipal waste, which has been raised from 44 percent to 55 percent by 2025. These targets will then rise further, to 60 percent by 2030 and 65 percent by 2035. The draft law “also limits the share of municipal waste to be landfilled to a maximum of 10 percent by 2035.”
New targets have also been introduced for packaging, stating that member states must recycle or re-use 65 percent by 2025 and 70 percent by 2030.
Ms Bonafé said, “In line with the UN’s sustainable development objectives, the package also reduces food waste by 50 percent and aims for a 65 percent recycling threshold by all member states.”
A statement from the EU reveals that “almost a third of municipal waste” is currently still going to landfill and “less than half is recycled or composted”, though there are “wide variations” between the recycling practices of member states.
