Est. 2min 09-04-2008 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) recycling_papermass.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Recycling targets should be increased and incinerators subjected to efficiency criteria when burning waste for energy ‘recovery’ purposes, according to MEPs who voted on a controversial revision of EU recycling rules on 8 April. By 2020, 50% of the EU’s household waste and 70% of construction waste should be recycled, according to a majority of MEPs in the Parliament’s Environment Committee. These targets should, according to MEPs, accompany member-state efforts to stabilise waste production by 2012 (based on 2009 levels). The vote is part of the Parliament’s second reading on the revision of the EU Waste Framework Directive, a controversial piece of legislation that is plagued by widely differing waste and recycling practices across the EU. At EU level, member states and Parliament have locked horns on the level of recycling targets, the kind of hierarchy that should be used to determine waste handling and the classification system that should be used to distinguish waste incineration from recovery. Countries like France which possess a large number of incinerators want their facilities to be classified as ‘recovery’ operations, since part of the incineration process produces energy. Importantly, such a classification would qualify such facilities for EU financial support under environmental state aid rules. But a number of Green MEPs on the environment committee are sceptical after having previously proposed that incinerators should be classified as recovery operations only if their principal purpose is energy production. In their 8 April vote, MEPs accepted, by a narrow margin, a Commission compromise on the matter. Incinerators would be classified as recovery operations only if they respect energy efficiency criteria established by Brussels. The criteria would need to be reviewed after two years, according to the vote. MEPs also stuck to their insistence that a five-stage waste hierarchy should be strictly adhered to, with any departures justified on the basis of life-cycle ‘thinking’. Imposing an obligation to conduct an actual life-cycle assessment or analysis was deemed too costly and bureaucratic by the committee, however. Member states generally favour a more ‘flexible’ approach to the hierarchy. Read more with Euractiv MEPs vote to outlaw green crimesThe European Parliament's Legal Affairs committee has backed plans to criminalise acts that cause environmental damage in a move that could compel member states to press sanctions on offenders. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions MEP Caroline Jackson, Parliament's rapporteur on the file, was pleased by the outcome of the vote and in particular MEPs' backing of recycling targets. "These targets are very important to MEPs. Recycling represents a sustainable way of dealing with waste and many countries need to put more effort into developing recycling schemes," she said. But UEAPME, which represents European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Brussels, criticised MEPs for engaging in a "target-setting frenzy that is bound to do more harm than good". "The arbitrary targets on recycling approved by the Environment Committee yesterday are neither based on existing statistics nor supported by an impact assessment study," said Guido Lena, UEAPME director for environmental policy. SMEs and craftsmen in the construction industry also reacted negatively to the vote, lamenting the lack of an impact assessment. "The target of 70% is arbitrary and not based on any statistical data, impact study or consultation of the concerned professional organisations. The consequences for small construction companies undertaking 80% of the sector's turnover have not been assessed. Lack of adequate networks of recycling facilities and large differences between member states make it essential that an impact study is undertaken prior to setting such targets," stated David Croft, president of the European Builders Confederation (EBC). The European Environment Bureau (EEB), on the other hand, was "thrilled" about the targets. "EU-level targets will give a true sense of direction to all member states and create drivers for investments in resource efficient systems," said EEB Waste Policy Officer Nathalie Cliquot. CEWEP, which represents European waste-to-energy plants, welcomed the vote. "With the acceptance of the ambitious energy efficiency criteria for Waste-to-Energy plants the Parliament’s Environment Committee took an important step towards climate protection", CEWEP said in a statement. BackgroundWaste and recycling policies are a cornerstone of EU environmental protection efforts, but the policy framework has been criticised for being too fragmented and inefficient. The current revision of the Waste Framework Directive seeks to address this issue (see our LinksDossier). Timeline June 2008: Second reading on waste in plenary. Further ReadingParliament MEP Caroline Jackson:Conservative MEP wins support for mandatory Europe-wide recycling targets(8 April) EU Actors positions UEAPME:Waste Directive: no targets without impact assessment, say SMEs(9 April) European Builders Confederation (EBC):Revision of the Waste Directive: No! To targets at any cost!(7 April) CEWEP:Environment Committee: for ambitious recycling rates and efficient Waste-to-Energy Plants
