Spanish packaging scrap stats boosted by ‘fake data’

The company responsible for managing packaging waste from the Spanish beverage industry is being accused of ‘manipulating data’.

Ecoembes, which is funded by the industry, claims a 71% separate collection rate for small PET bottles in 2021. It achieved only 36%, according to a new report, when the target mandated by the Spanish government for 2023 is 70%. In law, failure to achieve the target would require the implementation of a deposit return system (DRS).

The campaigning groups behind the study, Zero Waste Europe and Zero Waste Alliance, argue that DRS works in more than 50 regions around the world and ensures the recovery of 90% of beverage containers. 

Dismal result

A Zero Waste Alliance spokesperson says: ‘This dismal 36% is a wake-up call for the Spanish Government. As mandated by the Spanish waste law, it’s high time to roll out DRS for beverage containers.’ 

Zero Waste Europe says it will take the evidence presented in the report to the European Commission to put an end to ‘fake data’ blocking the implementation of zero waste policies.

The consultancy Eunomia led work on the study, which is available here. It found:

• opacity in Spain’s packaging waste data
• a lack of solid methodology from the ministry for tracking legal milestones in plastic bottle collection
• over-estimation of the beverage industry’s data

Eunomia concludes: ‘Urgent policy interventions, such as DRS, are likely be required for Spain to meet its legal obligations’.

‘Fabricated’

Joan Marc Simon, founder of Zero Waste Europe, is concerned at ‘an alarming lack of data’ on packaging recycling. ‘If recycling rates were achieved, it would be transformative. But the industry’s ongoing data manipulation hinders the adoption of zero waste policies.

‘We’re left with no choice but to bring this evidence to the European Commission. We urge Eurostat to reject these fabricated figures that stall progress.’

Recycling International has reached out to Ecoembes for comment.