Recycling stats do not paper over EU’s waste problem

The European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) published its Monitoring Report 2012 on the 29 August 2013.

The ERPC announced an impressive 71.7% paper recycling rate for Europe. The ERPC revealed that current paper consumption in Europe had dropped by 13% to the level of 1998, but the recycled amount of paper is 1.5 times higher than in 1998 - a remarkable achievement.

However the EurActiv article also suggests that landfill and incineration rates for other types of waste remain high across the continent, quoting a Friends of the Earth study from April 2013.

Website: European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) http://www.paperrecovery.org/

ERPC: News, 29.08.13: Europe recycles 71.7% of paper and board used in 2012 http://www.paperforrecycling.eu/newsmanager/91/79/Europe-recycles-71-7-of-paper-and-board-used-in-2012/

ERPC: Publications: Monitoring report 2012 http://www.paperforrecycling.eu/uploads/Modules/Publications/WEB_lowres_Monitoring%20report%202012.pdf

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