Despite continuous progress and good performance, respect for EU rules on waste management is far from perfect in some member states and there are serious gaps in national performance, according to the report on implementation of the framework-directive on waste and other waste directives, a report published by the European Commission on Monday 24 September.
For municipal waste, 14 Member States have been identified as at risk of missing the 2020 target of 50% recycling (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain), a target laid down in the framework-directive.
Blueprints. For these 14 countries, the Commission has identified action to be taken to catch up and comply with the deadlines: more effective separate waste-collection, efficient schemes for expanded responsibility of producers, using economic tools such as taxes on waste sent to landfill or incineration and improving data collection.
In a press release, the institution says that these countries risk missing the opportunities provided by the circular economy and announces that it will be visiting the countries to meet with national, regional and local authorities and all stakeholders involved.
"The Commission is there to help by offering technical assistance, structural fund support and support in the exchange of best practices", said Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella.
This question is particularly important because the legally binding municipal waste recycling targets were sharply increased during the review of the EU's waste directives to 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035 (see EUROPE 12024).
The report, based on national data from 2013 to 2015 gives an overview of progress and challenges to be taken up for several sources of waste (municipal waste, construction and demolition waste, hazardous waste, electrical and electronic waste and waste packaging) and suggests ways of improving each of them. The draft report can be found at: https://bit.ly/2MSilLX. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)