European environment ministers will be asked to support EU-wide waste prevention and recycling targets in exchange for MEPs acceptance of energy-from-waste provisions under the new EU Waste Directive.
That was the message from Caroline Jackson, who is leading the European Parliament’s negotiation of the revised Waste Framework Directive.
Dr Jackson said she believes that the most efficient incinerators should be viewed as “recovery” plants under EU law.
But, she said her colleagues did not all agree on the matter, and that for European Union governments, via the EU Council, to have their way they will have to back European-wide recycling targets.
MEPs want the targets to ensure that Member States recycle 50% of municipal waste and 70% of commercial and construction waste by 2020.
The prevention target would call for waste generation levels to stabilise at 2008 levels from 2012.
In return, MEPs may support a formula to determine how efficient energy-from-waste incinerators must be to be classed as “recovery” plants rather than “disposal” facilities. This would enable governments to avoid certain regulations like the ban on exporting waste for disposal and gaining a greater acceptance amongst the public.
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