EC's Revised Waste Framework Directive Advances
June 18, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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Agreement on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive proposed by the European Commission (EC) was approved in a second reading vote by the European Council of Ministers on June 17.
This directive forms the central pillar of waste management policy in the European Union (EU).
In summary, the directive:
- Sets new recycling targets to be achieved by EU member states by 2020, including recycling rates of 50% for household and similar wastes and 70% for construction and demolition waste.
- Strengthens provisions on waste prevention through an obligation for member states to develop national waste prevention programs and a commitment from the EC to report on prevention and set waste prevention objectives.
- Sets a clear, five-step "hierarchy" of waste management options according to which prevention is the preferred option, followed by reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery - with safe disposal as the last recourse.
- Clarifies a number of important definitions, such as recycling, recovery and waste itself. In particular, it draws a line between waste and by-products, plus defines when waste has been recovered enough - through recycling or other treatment - to cease being waste.
The new directive will also streamline EU waste legislation by replacing three existing directives: the existing Waste Framework Directive (directive 2006/12/EC), the Hazardous Waste Directive (directive 91/689/EEC) and the Waste Oils Directive (directive 75/439/EEC).
"This legislation marks a shift in thinking about waste from an unwanted burden to a valued resource and helps to make Europe a recycling society. It introduces a modernised approach to waste management, with clearer definitions, greater emphasis on prevention of waste and ambitious new recycling goals," said Stavros Dimas, EC environment commissioner.
"The clear definitions and waste management principles its sets out will resolve existing interpretation problems, reduce the number of Court cases and create a sound legal basis for the functioning of the waste treatment sector," he added.
For more information, see the EC's web site on waste policy.
Source: European Commission.