On Friday 6 February, the Waste Technical Adaptation Committee (2019 Single-Use Plastics Directive), made up of representatives from EU Member States, is due to vote on the draft implementing decision on the recycled plastic content in single-use plastic beverage bottles, including the chemical recycling of bottles. The text was amended several times by the European Commission before the latest version was put out to public consultation last summer (see EUROPE 13779/10).
This draft defines the calculation criteria for measuring the quantity of recycled plastic in bottles. Initially designed for mechanical recycling, these criteria will now also apply to chemical recycling. According to the text, its scope is now limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. In addition, recycled plastic produced in Europe will be prioritised until 2027 in order to facilitate the achievement of targets for the incorporation of recycled content in new bottles. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)