Europe calls for consultation to seek review of recycling targets

Waste & Recycling  |  2013-04-11 10:03:54   |   By

The leading UK environmental consultancy- Eunomia will head a twelve week consultation to review the waste and recycling targets set by the European Union

LONDON (Scrap Monster) : The leading UK environmental consultancy- Eunomia will head a twelve week consultation to review the waste and recycling targets set by the European Union.

The twelve week consultation will interact with stakeholders to decide on whether a review of legally binding waste and recycling targets of its member states is necessary. The consultations will come out with the minimum recycling and landfill diversion levels that Member States must achieve.

The clauses in the Waste Framework, Landfill and Packaging and Packaging Waste Directives calls for a regular evaluation to ensure that the targets are in line with its broader objectives to reduce waste,  maximize recycling rates and decrease landfill use.

The assessment will consider whether there is a need to revise the current targets for household and packaging waste in order to help meet the aims of the Directives. It would also examine and suggest whether any change is required in the method adopted by the Member states in reporting their performance.

Dominic Hogg, chairman of Eunomia, has invited responses from all interested parties. He said that stakeholders can register online to take part in the consultation. (Please refer www.wastetargetsreview.eu)

The response to the review consultation so far has been overwhelming. The European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services (FEAD), which represents waste management companies across the continent, met Tuesday to begin preparing its response to the consultation.

According to the spokesperson, FEAD would favor revision of existing targets if they are backed up by a cost benefit analysis study and that they prove to be environment-friendly. FEAD favors setting ambitious targets but equal importance should be given to bridge the gap in recycling rates between the Member States.

 Currently under the Waste Framework Directive, Member States are required to recycle or reuse 50% of household waste by 2020. The Landfill Directive sets targets for Member States to progressively reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) being sent for disposal in landfill up to 2016. Packaging Waste Directive requires Member States to recover 60% of all packaging waste since 2008.

Eunomia is a consultancy services firm that specializes in waste management, low carbon energy, resource efficiency and climate change mitigation. Eunomia is conducting the research with support from the German research body Öko-Institut, the Copenhagen Resource Institute and environmental statistics firm ARGUS.