Norway warned over recycling rates

The Efta Surveillance Authority (ESA) has issued a letter of formal notice to Norway for failing to meet key waste collection and recycling targets.

ESA monitors compliance with European Economic Area (EEA) rules in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, enabling them to participate in the European internal market. 

Under EEA rules, Norway must achieve binding targets for the collection and preparing for reuse and recycling of waste. However, the most recent data reported for 2023 show that Norway has not yet met several targets.

Compliance

In particular, at least 50% of municipal waste should have been prepared for reuse and recycling by 2020. In 2023, the rate was only 41.7%. Norway was also required, by 2019, to collect the waste from at least 65% of the electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market but the collection rate was 47.8% in 2023.

Norway must now take the necessary measures to ensure compliance, as well as looking to the amended EEA waste legislation targets for 2025, 2030 and 2035.

Mirroring EU

A similar approach is being adopted by the EU. After issuing its own early warning report, the European Commission opened infringement proceedings against all 27 EU Member States for failing to meet targets.

A letter of formal notice is the first step in an infringement procedure against an EEA Efta State. Norway now has two months to respond to ESA’s concerns before ESA decides whether to take the case further.