About: recycling

Call for global treaty to end production of ‘virgin’ plastic by 2040

A binding global treaty is needed to phase out the production of “virgin” or new plastic by 2040, scientists have said. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.

Will the circular economy fly us to the moon?

Increased recycling has come at the expense of greener activities like reuse. The European Union now needs to adopt a multidimensional approach to tackle Europe's waste problem and move towards circularity, writes Joan Marc Simon.

Last minute EU taxonomy changes water down sustainability criteria for waste, NGOs say

The European Commission on Wednesday (21 April), tabled a first set of implementation rules under the EU's sustainable finance taxonomy, but changes made since a draft leaked last week have weakened criteria on waste management, campaigners say.

Lawmakers back mandatory targets in EU circular economy action plan

Lawmakers in the European Parliament adopted a set of ambitious proposals on the EU’s circular economy action plan on Tuesday (9 February), including calls to introduce mandatory targets to reduce waste.

French MPs recommend more use of washable masks as pollution concerns rise

Faced with the boom of single-use masks in France, the country's National Assembly set up a "flash mission" on the topic and concluded that the wearing of washable facemasks should be recommended to the public. EURACTIV France reports.

EU lawmakers call for targets to reduce raw material use

Lawmakers in the European Parliament's environment committee will call for legally-binding targets to reduce raw material use in a report due to be voted on this week.

From Europe to Central Asia, converted containers are trendy

Pop-up stores and restaurants using converted shipping containers are a growing trend in Europe and across the world, apparently boosted by behavioural changes caused by the Covid pandemic. EURACTIV Bulgaria reports.

France sees incredible boom in sports recycling centres

Sports recycling centres have only appeared across France in the past few years, aiming to recycle sports equipment and work towards zero waste in sports. Although fairly recent, they have seen incredible growth, expected to continue in 2021. EURACTIV France reports.

Parliament backs consumer’s right to repair in push towards circular economy

The EU should promote durable and repairable products, as well as boost a second-hand market and tackle greenwashing, under a proposal backed by the European Parliament on Tuesday (24 November).

Waste incineration across Europe and the UK: profit at the expense of climate

The EU and the UK must bring waste incineration plants within the scope of emissions trading schemes (ETS) if they are to achieve net zero-emissions and comply with the Paris Agreement, writes Georgia Elliott-Smith.

Resolving plastic packaging waste: Can deposit return schemes provide a breakthrough?

The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive sets a 90% separate collection target for plastic beverage bottles by 2029. Policymakers are debating whether deposit return schemes (DRS) can be the solution to achieve this target.

MEPs push for uniform EU concept on energy storage

The energy network of the future will be equipped with a wide variety of storage methods,  although constructing storage facilities, in itself, comes with many obstacles. The lack of a uniform concept on the matter is something which some MEPs want to change. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Plastic waste and recycling: France among EU’s ‘poor performers’

While the EU's plastic recycling rate has seen a slight increase of 1.4% between 2016 and 2018 amounting to 32.5% total according to Plastics Europe, France has been dragging the average down with a 24.2% recycling rate in 2018. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'Environnement reports.

Boosting circular economy requires joint effort, experts warn

If Europe wants to transition towards a circular economy model, the practices have to be mainstreamed and all actors should be involved in the process, experts warned during an event hosted by EURACTIV.

France orders fast food chains to quickly sort their waste

Fifteen fast food chains are being ordered by France's Ecological Transition ministry to sort their waste in at least 70% of their restaurants by the end of 2019. This has been a legal obligation since 1 July 2016. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'environnement reports.

German associations call for binding reusable packaging quotas

Since the start of this year, a new packaging law that aims to reduce disposable plastics has been in force in Germany. But so far, the share of disposable plastics has actually seen an increase in the beverages sector and German associations criticise the lack of binding regulations. EURACTIV Germany reports.

EU gears up for sustainability legacy handover

The outgoing European Commission has got through a lot of work when it comes to the circular economy but now attention is turning to the future and how to make sure recycling efforts really take off.

Chemical recycling of plastic: Waste no more?

Plastics recycling is as much of a challenge as an opportunity for the circular economy. Michael Laermann looks at chemical recycling and whether it can make the plastics value chain more circular whilst providing a profitable new industry branch.

Japanese village hits 81% recycling rate, aims for 100% by 2020

A Japanese village aims to be the first zero waste municipality in the world by 2020 and has already reached an 81% recycling rate. A member of the Japanese Zero Waste Academy told EURACTIV that the feat is replicable elsewhere.

Tough new EU recycling rules could be game-changer for packaging

In the coming years, EU citizens are set to see a change in the way they recycle waste at their homes and businesses – and in the way that recycling is measured.

New Caledonia bans disposable plastics

On 27 December, the Congress of New Caledonia voted to do away with most single-use plastic objects by 2020. EURACTIV France’s media partner the Journal de l’environnement reports.

Brussels plans new EU packaging rules to cut waste

The European Commission has started gathering views from EU member states, the packaging industry and online retailers ahead of a comprehensive review of EU rules on packaging waste, part of efforts to boost reuse and recycling rates by 2030.