Brussels, 23/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - PlasticsEurope, the European association of plastics manufacturers, has called on the EU to put in place a landfill restriction covering all recyclable and recoverable waste and says that “zero plastics to landfill by 2025” should be a priority for the EU if it is serious about moving to a circular economy.
That was the response of the association to the vote by the European Parliament environment committee on resource efficiency and the circular economy, pleased that MEPs had advocated putting an end to recoverable and recyclable resources being put to landfill (see EUROPE 11338).
“We welcome (the) decision of the Environment Committee calling for an ambitious EU approach towards ending the landfilling of valuable materials like plastics. This is a step closer towards 'Zero Plastics to landfill by 2025'”, said Karl-H. Foerster, executive director of PlasticsEurope. “From the experience of those member states which have already successfully introduced a landfill restriction, we know that only landfill restriction for recyclable and other recoverable waste is able to provide the legal certainty required for necessary investments in waste management infrastructure”, he added.
In his view, the concerns that some may have that such landfill restriction would promote only energy recovery are not supported by facts. He pointed out that, between 2006 and 2012, the amount of post-consumer plastic waste going to landfills was reduced by 26% and, as a result, plastics recycling rose by as much as 40% and energy recovery increased by 27%.
PlasticsEurope is less inclined to agree with the environment committee's suggestion that the scope of eco-design legislation be extended to all products. It says that, designing a product with the sole aim of improving its recyclability may not have an overall positive impact on the environment.
“Modern food packaging, for example, often consists of a multi-layer film made out of different plastics, making it hard to recycle, while offering huge benefits for both people and planet. If such packaging were not available, food producers would have to use far more material in order to provide the high level of protection required, thereby increasing its environmental footprint”, Foerster observed. (Aminata Niang)