
New circular economy package disappoints
The European Commission has released a set of proposals aiming to make Europe more resource-efficient, but most of the legally binding targets have been watered down compared to the previous 2014 package.
Proposals issued include a legally binding recycling rate of 65% across the EU by 2030 and a maximum limit to the amount of household waste that can be landfilled at 10% by the same year. The package will include a new Ecodesign working plan aimed at setting product design requirements for manufacturers so that goods are made to last longer and are more repairable and recyclable.
However, the waste targets are all weaker than those proposed in the 2014 version of the package, which the Commission withdrew with the sole argument that this was necessary to deliver more ambition.
This is a non-exhaustive comparison table on the major differences between the 2014 and 2015 Circular Economy Packages:
What |
2014 proposal |
2015 proposal |
Result |
Recycling target of household waste |
70% by 2030 |
65% by 2030 Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Malta, Romania and Slovakia may apply for 5 additional years to meet the target |
|
Recycling target of packaging waste |
80% by 2030 |
75% by 2030 |
|
Indicative target for food waste |
30% food waste reduction in 2025 from 2017 level |
No target although proposal for a harmonized methodology and reference to Sustainable Development Goals |
|
Landfilling target |
Aspirational target for a maximum of 5% non-hazardous household waste that can be landfilled in 2030 if not recyclable or compostable + ban on recyclable and compostable waste going to landfill |
Maximum limit of 10% of household waste can be landfilled in 2030 (binding restriction) but that can include recyclable and compostable waste |
|
Separate collection of biowaste |
Ensure separate collection of biowaste by 2025 |
Ensure separate collection of biowaste as long as technically, economically and environmentally possible |
|
Resource efficiency target |
Indicative 30% target based on Raw Material Consumption |
No mention |
|
Focus of reducing resource use in Ecodesign policy |
Covered although no deadlines set |
Covered with indicative deadlines |
|
Preventing obsolescence of products |
Not mentioned |
Independent testing programme on identification of issues related to planned obsolescence (2018) as part of non-binding action plan. |
|
Quality standard for recycling |
Mentioned as exemplary feature of circular economy, but not addressed as such |
Development of quality standards for secondary raw materials (in particular for plastics) but as part of the non-binding action plan. |
|
Information on resources in a product |
Already covered in the WEEE Directive of 2012 |
Improve exchange of information between manufacturers and recyclers on electronic products
|
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