EU waters down recycling targets for packaging, domestic waste

Brussels (dpa) - The European Commission unveiled plans Wednesday to cut back on waste, but drew criticism for replacing an earlier proposal with less ambitious targets for the recycling of packaging and household rubbish.The goals are part of a package aimed at creating new business opportunities and boosting competitiveness, giving rise to more jobs while also preserving scarce and precious resources and protecting the environment, according to the European Union‘s executive.The EU cannot compete globally on wage costs or cheap natural resources, noted commission Vice President Frans Timmermans. "But with resource efficiency, leadership and green technologies, and modern waste management, we can build a competitive edge," he said.The proposal aims at recycling 65 per cent of municipal waste - including household rubbish - and 75 per cent of packaging by 2030. It also introduces a new target to ensure that no more than 10 per cent of waste should end up as landfill in 15 years.In July last year, the commission had proposed a municipal waste recycling target of 70 per cent and 80 per cent for packaging by 2030. Those plans were withdrawn in February, to be replaced with "more ambitious" measures.Timmermans defended the new, broader, approach and said several member states had rejected the previous benchmarks. The landfill target, which was not included in the earlier proposal, will require a "huge effort" by many countries, he noted.The commission also aims to reduce the amount of rubbish that is incinerated, cut back on food waste and encourage the manufacturing of products that outlive their warranty period and can be repaired more easily when they break down, among other things.But the Friends of the Earth environmental group criticized the approach."This has been a year of unnecessary delay," said the group‘s director Magda Stoczkiewicz, accusing the commission of "watering down binding measures and giving member states a free pass to shy away from tackling our overconsumption crisis.""This is disappointing," added liberal EU lawmaker Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy. "Weakening most binding EU waste targets is not progress."Industry representatives welcomed the proposals, however."The renewed approach is a good step to support business in this long-term transition agenda" towards a recycling-oriented economy, said Markus Beyrer of BusinessEurope.The commission is "improving the availability of raw materials in Europe," added Holger Loesch of the influential Federation of German Industry.The measures require the approval of EU governments and lawmakers before coming into effect.