Trade bodies representing Europe’s steel, paper and non-ferrous metals recyclers have united in their call to EU Circular Economy trialogue negotiators to put an ambitious recycling measure first.
Member States have on agreed their negotiating mandate on Circular Economy waste proposals, paving the way for trialogues with the European Commission and Parliament. EUROFER, CEPI and Eurometaux have appealed for all EU institutions to prove their Circular Economy ambition, by working constructively towards a single measure of real recycling.
EUROFER director general Axel Eggert said: “Every institution has now acknowledged that Member States need to start calculating recycling rates at the same point, which is not the case under present legislation. However, the Parliament has been the only institution to propose the right solution: a single measure without derogation. We’ll be working with policymakers to make the best of the proposals, and to aim for one measurement at the input point of the final recycling process. The worst possible outcome is one where we are left with a permanent loophole that allows Member States to circumvent requirements.”
CEPI director general Sylvain Lhote added: “Today three of Europe’s recycling leaders have united to emphasise the importance of measuring ‘real’ recycling rates. Making the Circular Economy happen in Europe means we must be able to measure the actual recycling rate. This will allow better targeting of investment where it matters most – better systems of collection and sorting that enhance the quality and quantity of what is recycled which in turn boost industry development.”
Eurometaux director general Guy Thiran said: “Until we have a common method to measure how much of our waste gets recycled, it doesn’t matter whether the EU’s headline recycling target is 65 per cent or 70 percent. EU negotiators need to make a strong calculation method their top priority. We can only gage the realism and ambition of recycling targets once we know what Member States will be measuring.”
