Many EU Member States not on track to meet recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging waste
11 July 2024
The European Environment Agency published yesterday a report concerning the progress made so far from Member States in achieving recycling targets for municipal and packaging waste for 2025. Based on the Waste Framework Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, national governments must meet the 55% recycling target for municipal waste to and 65% recycling target for the total packaging waste. The report aims not only to take stock of what the waste management policies of Member States achieved so far but also to indicate which policy areas can be improved so that recycling targets will be met by the national governments.
The European Environment Agency’s assessment methodology is based on data and information available up to March/April 2022. The European Topic Centre on Circular Economy and Resource Use contributed to the test of the methodology in collecting relevant information in cooperation with a group of volunteering Member States.
It is evident that national governments need to step up their efforts and implement targeted and efficient policies to meet the recycling targets. However, it is in the Secretariat’s understanding that most of the Member States clearly have not adopted (if any) effective national Waste Management National Plans including strong litter prevention provisions as they are legally obliged under the Waste Framework Directive. Clean Europe Network will keep reminding national authorities and the EU that litter prevention is key in achieving the objectives of the Waste Framework Directive. The Secretariat will keep you updated on any new data and relevant reports becoming available in the future.
The European Environment Agency’s assessment methodology is based on data and information available up to March/April 2022. The European Topic Centre on Circular Economy and Resource Use contributed to the test of the methodology in collecting relevant information in cooperation with a group of volunteering Member States.
Key messages
- 10 Member States are at risk of missing both the municipal waste (55%) and the total packaging waste (65%) recycling targets in 2025.
- Eight Member States are at risk of missing the municipal waste (55%) recycling target but on track to meet the total packaging waste target in 2025.
- Plastic packaging is the most demanding packaging waste stream to recycle. 19 Member States will struggle to meet the 50% recycling target in 2025.
- Bio-waste is the largest single component of municipal waste. Separate collection of bio-waste for a large part of the population is therefore key in helping Member States reach their recycling target for municipal waste.
- Member States at risk of not meeting their recycling target had neither convenient, separate collection in place for most of the population nor adequate, available treatment capacity.
It is evident that national governments need to step up their efforts and implement targeted and efficient policies to meet the recycling targets. However, it is in the Secretariat’s understanding that most of the Member States clearly have not adopted (if any) effective national Waste Management National Plans including strong litter prevention provisions as they are legally obliged under the Waste Framework Directive. Clean Europe Network will keep reminding national authorities and the EU that litter prevention is key in achieving the objectives of the Waste Framework Directive. The Secretariat will keep you updated on any new data and relevant reports becoming available in the future.
