Press Release: Environment: Commission helps Member States to get on track with sustainable waste management

Every year, each European citizen generates over 500 kilos of municipal waste, more than one third of which goes directly to landfill. Whereas some Member States manage to put those resources to productive use, recycling or composting around 60% of their municipal waste, others struggle to manage it.

On 19 March 2013 Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik is participating in a high level seminar in Brussels to help Member States that are lagging behind in sustainable waste management practices. The aim is to help optimise their waste policies through tailored Roadmaps with practical recommendations, focusing on the effective implementation of EU waste legislation. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia were present at the seminar.

In parallel, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published an in-depth analysis of the past decade's achievements in municipal waste management policies in the EU.

European Commission: Rapid: SPEECH/13/240: Waste is not a problem – it is an opportunity http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-240_en.htm

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