Tag: packaging waste

European responses to waste generation have been fragmented (twelve directives since the 1970s) and inefficient until now. The Commission's proposed Thematic Strategy (21 Dec. 2005) sets up a framework for a holistic review of the existing EU waste policy, based on prevention and recycling.

The Environment Council has emphasised the importance of keeping a clear waste hierarchy that puts the priority on prevention, thereby soothing green NGO fears that it wanted to prioritise incineration for generating energy.

The proposed new waste strategy seeks to cut waste generation and boost recycling and recovery through a new 'life-cycle' approach. But it leaves the thorny issue of recycling and prevention targets to EU states.

The European Court of Justice has ruled the German system of mandatory return and deposit of drink packages illegal on the basis that it imposes disproportionate trade restrictions on other EU producers.

The Commission's proposed life-cycle approach on prevention and recycling of waste has been given "clear recognition" by the informal environment Council. Decoupling and targets are still a long way off.

On 26 January, the Council of Ministers formally adopted a decision on monitoring mechanisms for greenhouse gas emissions and a directive on packaging waste.

The Conciliation Committee (between Parliament and Council) has reached a compromise on the review of the Packaging Waste Directive - permitting Member States to count incineration for recovery targets.

According to the Commission, the German deposit and return system for non-refillable drinks packaging restricts imports from foreign producers and is therefore not in line with internal market rules.

On 2 July, MEPs voted in second reading on the draft directive on packaging waste, pushing for the introduction of measures for the prevention of waste. However, MEPs gave their support to the Council's Common position on crucial issues such as the deadlines and targets, which is likely to lead to a faster conciliation process than expected.

After the adoption of a common Council position on 6 March 2003, the draft directive on packaging and packaging waste is starting its second reading in the European Parliament.

On 3 September 2002, the European Parliament gave strong support to the Corbey report on packaging and packaging waste, demanding stricter rules on recycling.

The expected vote in the Parliament's Environment Committee on the revised directive on packaging waste did not take place in June, but was postponed to July. This was due to the complexity of the issue and the partly controversial changes proposed by the rapporteur.

DG Environment has in a recent working document outlined possible options concerning the future use of CEN standardisation for packaging waste. Stakeholders and Member States are being consulted on the document.

The European Commission has proposed new and stricter targets for recycling and recovering packaging waste on 7 December 2001. The proposal is part of the planned revision of the 1994 packaging and packaging waste directive. However, several controversial issues such as prevention, re-use and producer responsibility have been postponed until a later date.

The European Parliament's Environment Committee last week adopted a report urging stronger measures to fight the EU's packaging waste mountain. The own-initiative report of the Parliament aims to influence the forthcoming revision of the 1994 packaging and packaging waste directive to be published by the Commission in November.

German Bundesrat rejects a controversial proposal to introduce compulsory deposit on non-reusable drinks containers

German Bundesrat to vote on amendment to its packaging waste laws, which could have EU-wide implications for packaging industry

Commission condemns German "Green Dot" company for abuse of dominant position in market for collection and recycling of sales packaging

APEAL addresses formal complaint to Legal Unit of DG Environment against recent Danish tax law on packaging

EUROPEN, the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment, calls upon the Commission to adopt the CEN packaging standards.