Commission invests in recycling schemes

Four recycling schemes in Europe are being backed in a multi-million Euro investment in environmental and climate protection projects.

The European Commission has announced that EUR 110 million will be spent in the latest projects selected as part of its LIFE programme. The four schemes involving waste management and recycling are:

• Cyprus – a project will aim to improve the infrastructure and collection systems for recyclable and biodegradable waste.
• Latvia – improving separate waste collection and reuse of municipal waste.
• Denmark – a project will work on waste prevention and on setting up a better waste regulatory framework.
• Slovenia – efforts to achieve a better recycling rate of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste, among other actions.

Executive vice-president responsible for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermanssays: ‘We have no time to waste when it comes to the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises. The LIFE programme provides direct support to projects across the EU and enables entire countries and regions to protect and restore nature. Nature is our biggest ally and we need to take care of it so it can take care of us.’

LIFE has been running since 1992 and has supported more than 5 500 projects across the EU and beyond with EUR 5.4 billion. The Commission has increased funding by almost 60% for the 2021–2027 period on its four sub-programmes: nature and biodiversity, circular economy and quality of life, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and clean energy transition.