European Union targets 85% glass recycling rate by 2030

The Circular Economy Package issued by the European Commission has proposed new recycling goals, aimed at making Europe more resource-efficient.

BRUSSELS (Scrap Monster): The Circular Economy Package issued by the European Commission has proposed new recycling goals, aimed at making Europe more resource-efficient. However, the proposed recycling targets are alleged to be lower when compared with the 2014 version of the package.

The Package puts forward 75% recycling target for glass packaging by 2025 and 85% by 2030. The European Container Glass Manufacturers Association (FEVE) has welcomed the package. According to FEVE, the much awaited package is likely to pave way for a real EU circular economy. It termed the new targets as ‘ambitious’, yet ‘challenging’. Many countries in the region will need to make significant investment towards glass recycling infrastructure in order to ensure that the set targets are achieved. Latest data suggests that nearly 73% of all post-consumer glass packaging are already collected for recycling.

Meantime, the Package proposes a significantly lower target of 55% by 2025 for recycling plastics. Also, it sets a common EU target for recycling 65% of municipal waste by 2030 and a common EU target for recycling 75% of packaging waste by 2030. In addition, it also sets a binding landfill target to reduce landfill to maximum of 10% of all waste by 2030. The package also assures increased co-operation with member states to promote waste management efforts.

A circular economy is an economic model where resources and materials are continuously re-used and recycled to reduce waste and pressure on the earth’s natural resources. The circular economy is estimated to create 2 million new jobs. The proposals are likely to result in greenhouse gas emission reductions between 2% and 4% per annum.