Ambitious EU packaging recycling targets

Archiv – Early July, the European Parliament (EP) approved the increase of recycling and recovery rates to be achieved in the European packaging sector as proposed by the Council of Ministers and European Commission. EU Member States will have to comply with the new targets by 31 December 2008. Early July, the European Parliament (EP) approved the increase of recycling and recovery rates to be achieved in the European packaging sector as proposed by the Council of Ministers and European Commission. EU Member States will have to comply with the new targets by 31 December 2008. Ireland, Greece and Portugal are being asked to comply with the new targets by 30 June 2010.
The new targets are ambitious (60% overall recovery and 55% overall recycling). In addition, the future targets will further harmonize packaging waste recycling in Europe through the introduction, for the first time, of material specific targets (60% for glass and paper/cardboard; 50% for metals; 22.5 % for plastics and 15 % for wood packaging).