“There are some very welcome elements in this report, including the strong focus on improving definitions, measurement and data, and the development of robust indicators. Without a consistent and equitable EU-wide framework for performance measurement and reporting, any targets and aspirations fall at the first hurdle.
“While welcoming the more visible ambition on waste prevention, CIWM does believe that more work is needed on the interrelationship between the different objectives and drivers proposed to move waste up the hierarchy. More waste prevention, the roll out of extended producer responsibility, the amended definition of the point of recycling and the removal of TEEP from the separate collection requirement could all have a significant impact on current practices and recycling rates. They also have the potential to introduce counterproductive tensions into the system. The ambition and emphasis needs to be on reducing waste and improving the quality of recycling, and it is important that these are not sacrificed in the charge for ever higher ‘headline’ targets.
“On recycling in particular, however, CIWM is pleased to see a new proposal for Member States to “make use of regulatory and economic instruments in order to incentivise the uptake of secondary raw materials.” This is something that CIWM and others have repeatedly called for to ensure that the value proposition for recycling is robust and can support the policy objectives in the Circular Economy package. At present, market prices and volatility are hampering recycling rates and any recycling target, be it 65 or 70%, is unlikely to be attainable unless we address this issue.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Press contact: Pat Jennings Head of Policy & Communications Tel: 01604 620426 Mob: 07912 228260 E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk