The EU institutions reached a compromise today with member states on crucial waste laws to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Europe. But all parts could have done much more to secure stronger recycling rates and prevent waste, says the EEB.

After three years of discussions, the European Parliament and Commission reached an agreement with member states to boost recycling targets and waste prevention across Europe.

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is Europe’s largest network of environmental organisations with around 140 member organisations in more than 30 countries.

The EEB said that the new laws and targets will be crucial to help Europe transition towards a circular economy, but regrets that member states slashed almost all targets proposed by a more ambitious European Parliament.

Piotr Barczak, waste policy officer at the EEB said:

“This is not the outcome we all hoped for, but it is nonetheless a significant improvement compared with the laws that are currently in place. We are happy the discussions are now over. Now member states and EU institutions need to build on this decision to fully transition to a circular economy.

 “Member states lacked the ambition shown by the European Parliament and Commission throughout the negotiations, especially with regards to recycling and preparation for reuse.”

Below is an overview of the most significant agreements.

Member states will be required to recycle at least 55% of their municipal waste by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035, whereas the European Parliament proposed a 70% by 2030.

The agreement also includes a 10% cap on landfill by 2035. But Barczak warned that:

“With no similar restrictions on the amount of waste being burned, the risk is that some member states will now shift to incineration rather than recycling and reuse.”

With regards to marine litter, the new laws include provisions allowing countries to restrict the use of single-use plastics without facing legal action.

Other positive notes include improvements in the traceability of hazardous substances in products and waste, decontamination of hazardous waste as well as restrictions on oxo-degradable plastics and planned obsolescence.

The new laws will come into force in the beginning of 2018 and will need to be transposed into national legislation within 24 months from that moment.

Notes to Editors

• Less than 50% of waste in the EU is recycled. This is a missed opportunity for both the environment and the economy, with producers forced to import more raw materials and increase production costs and wasteful consumption.
• Higher recycling targets can result in 580,000 new green jobs and save businesses across the EU over €72 billion a year.
• Figures for job creation could go up to 867,000 if, on top of recycling, the waste directive included better policies for reuse.