Question écrite de
Mme Lídia PEREIRA
-
Commission européenne
Subject: Recycling plastic packaging
According to the latest Eurobarometer, Europe’s citizens are concerned about the environment above all else.
In the EU, around 42% of plastic packaging was recycled in 2017, and in seven Member States more than half of plastic packaging was recycled.
Overall, since 2015, plastic package recycling has increased substantially by 18 percentage points (from 24% to 42%).
However, the case of Portugal is still a cause for concern:
1. It is one of the worst recyclers of plastic packaging in the EU.
2. In 2015, it recycled more plastic packaging than any other country (43%) since records had begun, yet today, according to official data, it only recycles 34.9%.
3. The European Parliament has received complaints that the data sent by the Portuguese authorities do not match the reality.
In view of the above, can the Commission say:
1. Are any checks carried out by the Commission on the data sent by Member States?
2. What strategy does the Commission intend to adopt so that the recycling of plastic packaging (and other materials) is the rule rather than the exception?
Supporter1
1 This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE)
Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission (22 January 2020)
Member States report waste data under Directive 94/62/EC (2) in the format established by the Commission (3). The reports must contain a description of how the data were compiled and an explanation of any estimates used. In the 2018 revision of the directive, these requirements were further strengthened. Article 6a(3) and (8) of the directive (4) requires that Member States establish an effective system of quality control and traceability of the packaging waste. Member States must report in line with Decision 2005/270/EC (modified by Commission Implementing Decision 2019/665 (5)) which establishes rules for the calculation, verification and reporting of data. Under Article 12 of Directive 94/62/EC, the Commission will review the data and assess the organisation of their collection, the sources of data, their completeness, reliability, timeliness and consistency and the methodology used by Member States. A report on the results of its review is already planned for 2020. The Commission is also engaged in a dialogue with the Portuguese authorities and stakeholders to drive changes in the waste management system on the basis of the Early warning report (6).
The revised Directive established a number of new obligations to strengthen recycling of packaging: increased recycling targets, more stringent reporting and recycling calculation rules, reinforced separate collection obligation, obligation to set up extended producer responsibility schemes for all packaging by 2024 and to modulate fees under these schemes to take into account packaging recyclability. The Commission is developing guidance on the implementation of separate collection obligations and extended producer responsibility rules. Also, a review of the essential requirements for packaging is underway with the objective to drive product design for recycling.
⋅1∙ This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE)
⋅2∙ Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, OJ L 365, 31.121994, p. 10.
⋅3∙ Based on Commission Decision 2005/270/EC, OJ L 86, 5.4.2005, p. 6.
⋅4∙ As modified by Directive (EU) 2018/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging
waste, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 141‐154.
⋅5∙ Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/665 of 17 April 2019 amending Decision 2005/270/EC establishing the formats relating to the database system
pursuant to European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, OJ L 112, 26.4.2019, p. 26‐46. ⋅6∙ SWD(2018) 422, 24.9.2018.