Brussels, 04/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - After three attempts, the Commission, Council and European Parliament, in an informal trilogue, on 3 June, came to a compromise on the proposed review of the framework directive on waste prevention and recycling. The proposal for a directive has entered a crucial phase, since the second reading vote is scheduled for the plenary session of 16-19 June. With the environment committee having, on second reading, reinstated in the text the objective of stabilising waste production by 2012 at 2009 levels and compulsory recycling targets, which the Council did not want (see EUROPE 9640), there had to be some meeting of minds if the conciliation procedure was to be avoided.
The compromise pushes the waste prevention objective back to 2014, at which date recycling targets are to be reviewed.
While MEPs called for all member states to be required to meet re-use or recycling levels of at least 50% of household and similar waste, and 70% of construction and demolition, manufacturing and industrial waste by 2020, the text agreed provides for a non-binding target of 45% for certain household waste (glass, paper, plastic, metals) and 65% for construction and demolition waste, with no target for manufacturing waste.
“This is a very difficult issue for the Council as some member states can meet the targets easily while others will struggle,” conceded rapporteur Caroline Jackson (EPP-ED, UK).
The Greens/EFA Group in the Parliament immediately expressed its disappointment at a compromise “which represents a setback for the European environment and climate change policies”, because an ambitious European waste policy could make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions by suitable prevention, re-use and recycling. In a press release, the Greens/EFA regretted that the Parliament had “given in on major negotiation points” and were critical, in particular, that incineration could, in some cases, be classed as waste re-use. The European Environment Bureau (EEB) said it was “deeply concerned” that the Parliamentary delegation was ready to give up on the environment committee's very firm position. “If the deal is accepted, we will look back on this moment as a failure in the political will to make achievable and beneficial changes,” said Michael Warhurst of Friends of the Earth Europe. (A.N.)