Waste and recycling on MEPs’ radar

MEPs get their first chance to discuss controversial waste and recycling laws next Monday (12 February).

The European Commission in December 2005 proposed new legislation updating EU waste rules, as part of a ‘thematic strategy’ on waste. The proposal set environmental standards for waste and asked member states to draw up national waste prevention programmes.

Parliament’s environment committee last November voted to go further than the Commission, making it compulsory for member states to stabilise waste production by 2012. They also threw out a proposal to re-brand waste incineration in some cases as energy recovery.

The committee vote lasted for two hours and a detailed debate is expected at the plenary session in Strasbourg.

Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE) and the European Environmental Bureau will be in Strasbourg to push for even tougher environmental amendments.

The green lobbyists would like to see an EU-wide commitment to recycle half of municipal waste (waste from households, streets and parks) by 2020.

Michael Warhurst from FOEE said: "We should be aiming to burn or bury nothing that could be re-used, recycled or composted."

In particular, he said MEPs should stand by the environment committee decision on energy recovery.

"MEPs have a key opportunity to spur increased recycling across the EU," he said, "which - unlike incineration - would minimise greenhouse gas emissions and make efficient use of resources."

MEPs get their first chance to discuss controversial waste and recycling laws next Monday (12 February).