Waste management in EU Member States

Subject: Waste management in EU Member States

Every year, the Commission criticises nearly every Member State, including Poland, for not complying with waste management standards. As a result, the Commission is planning to introduce more rigorous measures to ensure that recycling and preparation for re-use targets are met, as set out in the Waste Framework Directive, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. The Commission is also planning to introduce new, rigorous standards in relation to the textile and food sectors.

At the same time, Poland is seeing massive waste imports from other countries and an increase in the number of fires in landfills, a majority of which are illegal.

In the light of the foregoing:

1. Does the Commission not view the 2025 and 2035 goals as unrealistic and in need of modification?

2. What steps will the Commission take in relation to countries that do not achieve the established goals by 2025?

3. What steps will the Commission take to monitor and regulate cross-border movements of waste in order to avoid similar incidents to those being seen in Poland?

Submitted: 22.8.2024

Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission (12 November 2024)

1. The Commission’s early warning report (EWR) (1) shows progress towards achieving the 2025 and 2035 targets for municipal and packaging waste laid down in EU legislation, even if the situation is diverse and many Member States are at risk of not attaining the targets within the deadlines (2). The report concludes that the majority of Member States have recently carried out or are in the process of implementing waste reforms that will result in increased recycling rates in the years leading to 2025 and beyond. As improving recycling is essential for the circular economy transition, as well as for reaching climate neutrality, zero pollution, resilience and security of supply, the Commission does not intend to propose modifications to these targets.

2. The EWR makes country-specific recommendations to improve preparing for re-use and recycling rates in Member States (3). If implemented swiftly, the suggested measures could significantly accelerate the achievement of the targets. Technical support, compliance promotion and EU funding have been continuously available to Member States. The Commission also adopted recommendations on increasing the return of used and waste mobile phones, tablets and laptop s (4). The Commission will monitor the situation and take enforcement actions as appropriate. Infringement cases were recently launched for failure to achieve the 2020 municipal waste recycling targets and the targets for waste electrical and electronic equipment (5).

3. The new Waste Shipment Regulation (6) contains provisions to strengthen enforcement of waste shipment rules and better address waste trafficking, including a mandate for the Commission (through the European Anti-Fraud Office) to support Member States in their enforcement efforts.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/waste-early-warning-report_en

2 ∙ ⸱ The 2025 targets for preparing for re-use and recycling of municipal waste and recycling of all packaging waste, and the 2035 target for reducing landfilling of

municipal waste in accordance with Article 11(2)(c) of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3-30, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109-140. ; Article 6(1)(f) of European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste, OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 10-23, amended by Directive (EU) 2018/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 141-154. ; Article 5(5) of Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste, OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1-19, amended by Directive (EU) 2018/850 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 100-108. 3 ∙ ⸱ Early warning report, p. 5. 4 ∙ ⸱

Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/2585 of 6 October 2023 on improving the rate of return of used and waste mobile phones, tablets and laptops, C/2023/6618, OJ L, 2023/2585, 20.11.2023. 5 ∙ ⸱

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_24_3228, Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), OJ L 197, 24.7.2012, p. 38-71. 6 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on shipments of waste, amending Regulations (EU) No 1257/2013 and (EU) 2020/1056 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006, OJ L, 2024/1157, 30.4.2024.