Recycling Industry Erupts as EU Commission Ditches Circular Economy Package

In a move that has caused considerable consternation across the European waste and recycling industry, the Commission’s first vice president, Frans Timmermans, yesterday promised a “more ambitious proposal” for the circular economy, while proposing to withdraw the existing proposal. Presenting the 2015 Commission Work Programme to the European Parliament Timmermans said: “In the elections we heard people across the Union tell us they want change. They want Europe to act where it makes a difference. They want it to improve their lives. To focus on the big things that matter: jobs, growth and fairness in our societies…” “We are also proposing to withdraw the existing proposal on the circular economy, to make way for a broader and more ambitious approach that can be more effective. We want to look beyond the narrow focus on waste and to 'close the loop' of the circular economy, for example by addressing recycling in product design and creating a market for secondary raw material. “We will present this new, more ambitious proposal to promote the circular economy by the end of 2015. In parallel we will promote investment in this sector through the new European Fund for Strategic Investment as well as the European Structural and Investment Funds.” Greens ‘concerned’ Following the announcement, the Greens expressed concern about the mooted shelving of “crucial legislative proposals” on environment, health, social protection and the economy. "Despite his [Timmermans’] smoke and mirrors in the European Parliament today, it is clear that the Commission is sharpening its knives to cut a number of important legislative proposals. Axing crucial social, environmental and health legislation is not 'better regulation' it is an ideologically-biased sop to polluting industry lobbies,” commented Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts. "It is welcome that the Commission has responded to pressure from the Greens and others and not given up on the crucial proposals on the 'circular economy. However, it is hard to believe this Commission will withdraw the draft law and replace it with something more ambitious, given the inauspicious start they have made,” he continued. “Far from damaging the economy, the proposals on the circular economy would stimulate innovation in resource efficiency and saving, which would create durable domestic jobs in Europe, according to the Commission's own research, added Lamberts. Recyclers regretful FEAD, a European federation representing the European waste and recycling firms that together employ around 320,000 people, said that it “regrets the uncertainty around the future of the EU’s circular economy proposals”. The organisation said that “from the very beginning of the process” it had supported the European Commission in its crucial role of revising the EU waste policy. It further said that its members had underlined the importance of the Commission’s Circular Economy Package for jobs, growth, and sustainable development in the European Union towards the members of the European Parliament and the new Commission. However, the organisation added that the waste related proposals, a key corner-stone of the circular economy package, are ambitious. Hence, according to FEAD, the wording used by the European Commission to make it “broader and more ambitious” is to be interpreted as “to make it more circular”, thereby including missing economic and industrial aspects (eco-design, so-called “pull-measures”). “It is reassuring to note that the Commission will consult the European Parliament and Council before formalising the withdrawal,” commented FEAD secretary general, Nadine De Greef. What is not reassuring, the trade body added, is the legal uncertainty created by the Commission’s decision. “If our common goal is to create green growth and boost ecoinnovation, thereby creating many business opportunities and jobs, urgently required investments in modern waste management infrastructure by private waste companies may now be put on hold,” argued De Greef. FEAD president, David Palmer-Jones added: “Progress towards a more circular economy in Europe is vital for jobs and growth as well as for resource efficiency and environmental protection. If the EU wants more ambition and economic focus on the Circular Economy package then I stand ready with FEAD to help the Commission.” Job creation Echoing the regret for a missed opportunity expressed by FEAD, Plastics Europe president, Ton Emans said that “today is an unfortunate day for sustainable growth in Europe”. “A direct implementation of the Circular Economy would have enabled the creation of 120,000 jobs only in plastics recycling,” he continued. Despite the delayed legislation Emans said that the organisation would look forward to the ‘more ambitious Circular Package’ announced by vice president Timmermans. However, he cautioned that: “The Commission must keep its word to make this revised proposal in a speedy manner. As underlined in the Commission’s Green paper on plastic waste, increased recycling in Europe will lead to a more sustainable and circular economy.” Regret was also expressed by The UK’s Environmental Services Association (ESA). "While it is reassuring to hear that the Commission plans to bring back the Circular Economy proposals in a broader and more ambitious form in 2015, rather than abandon them altogether, the uncertainty around what this means is not helpful,” commented ESA's Europe Policy Adviser Roy Hathaway. He added that progress towards a more circular economy in Europe is vital for jobs and growth as well as for resource efficiency and environmental protection. "The Commission's previous proposals were not perfect, but the direction of travel they set was right, and would have helped encourage private sector investment in better resource management,” concluded Hathaway. However, ESA too said that it looks forward to seeing the revised Commission proposals as soon as possible and will work with all EU institutions to ensure that they are workable and would help move European resource management in the right direction. Furious – Friends of the Earth Environmental campaign group, Friends of the Earth (FoE)was somewhat more forthright, slamming the decision and calling for stronger programmes to be agreed now. The organisation noted that in announcing the plans, Timmermans had said that the decision has was taken to focus on the Commission’s ‘priority’ of jobs and growth. This said FoE “wrong-headedly ignores the huge social and economic benefits of improved health and reduced waste”. “Action on air pollution and using our precious resources more efficiently is urgently needed – these crucial plans should have been fast-tracked, not parked,” said Friends of the Earth’s executive director, Andy Atkins. “Careful resource use is crucial for the long term wellbeing of both our economy and environment - it’s little wonder so many forward-looking retailers and manufacturers are deeply concerned about European Commission plans,” continued Atkins. “Europe claims a proud history of protecting our health and environment, but recent decisions have put a huge dent in its green reputation. A green and healthy environment and a thriving economy are two sides of the same coin,” he added. UK Government Friends of the Earth also criticised the UK Government for failing to voice concerns over the shelved proposals. “A broad coalition of businesses has been urging David Cameron to put pressure on the European Commission to keep its resource-use programme, but the silence from the UK government has been deafening,” Atkins noted. During a liaison committee session in the House of Commons yesterday prime minister, David Cameron was questioned on the decision by chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Joan Walley. “We’ve always supported sensible regulation on reducing waste and making better use of our resources,” Cameron answered. “We try to support sensible regulations where pollution is crossing boundaries, but we don’t want to see excessive regulation. That’s the balance we try and get right,” continued the PM. Unwelcome The UK’s Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) also urged action from the UK government and was also less than flattering in its assessment of the decision. “Yesterday's news about the retabling of the EU Circular Economy package later in 2015 is unwelcome,” commented CIWM chief executive, Steve Lee. “At best, it's an unnecessary delay and at worst leaves a sword of Damocles hanging over the future of green growth and resource efficiency and our sector's ability to deliver it.” Lee went on to note that the Commission does not have a good track record on 'shelved' initiatives and that Timmermann's statement is “somewhat confusing”. “2015 is only two weeks away and there is no reason given for shelving the package rather than working on the version that is already on the table,” he said. “To suggest that this delay will result in a more ambitious package also appears to contradict previous assertions that the proposals were undeliverable.” “We urge UK government to redouble its efforts to drive circular economy thinking and, with industry input, to influence the Commission and ensure that this initiative does not disappear,” concluded Lee. Juncker caving into big business Green10, an organisation representing 10 of the leading environmental NGOs in Europe, condemned the Commission’s plans to withdraw and retable key proposals on waste management and to create confusion and uncertainty about the fate of the air package in the strongest possible terms. According to the organisation Juncker and Timmermans are dropping revisions to the EU’s waste targets which would have created 180,000 jobs in Europe. It also noted that the decision was taken despite 11 EU countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, urging the Commission not to withdraw either proposal, as well as strong support from some industries and businesses for a revision of the EU’s waste targets. “This exercise undermines the Commission’s credibility. In trying to tame some of its critics, the Commission seems to be faithfully executing the ‘kill list’ developed by powerful industry lobby group, BusinessEurope, and then saying it will retable the air quality and waste proposals at a later stage,” said Ariel Brunner, Birdlife Europe’s head of EU Policy and current chair of the Green 10. “For a body that prides itself on delivering ‘better regulation’, this is spectacularly inefficient,” he continued. “These proposals offer better health, fewer sick-days, more jobs and a better environment for Europeans, along with a boost for forward-looking industries.” “Carrying through this badly thought out PR exercise will do nothing to restore the EU’s popularity with citizens - it will achieve the opposite. Derailing and creating uncertainty about the efforts to protect the environment and defend outdated and polluting business models represents a colossal, strategic blunder,” concluded Brunner. Ambition vital The Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP) highlighted that fact that 80 million tonnes of waste is still sent to landfill each year in the EU, and that an ambitious circular economy package is critical to reducing that. The organisation said that it is “looking forward to an ambitious Circular Economy package in 2015”, and hopes that the Circular Economy remains a high priority for EU decision makers and that the Commission will soon come up with ‘a more ambitious’ proposal that will take ‘a broader approach’. “Particularly, we would like to see an ambitious approach to phasing out landfilling as soon and as much as possible so that the full potential of waste as a resource would be unleashed, by increasing recycling and energy generation from the remaining waste,” commented CEWEP’s managing director, Dr Ella Stengler. Problem solved? If wondering what all the fuss is about regarding the ‘Circular Economy’, or you just fancy a bit of a laugh, why not check out what UKIP leader, Nigel Farage had to say on the matter. Read More Waste & Recycling Industry Fury at EU Plans to Drop Circular Economy Package The uncertainty surrounding the probable withdrawal of the EU Circular Economy Package has caused widespread dismay in the waste and recycling industry, with strong criticism coming from all directions. Trash Talk: 70% EU Recycling Target The European Commission has adopted proposals to turn Europe into a more circular economy. It hopes to boost the recycling of municipal solid waste to 70% by 2030 and ban the landfilling of recyclable material by 2025. WMW asked a number of industry leaders if these targets are realistic and how they can be met? EU Commission: 70% Recycling by 2030 & Landfill Bans by 2025 The European Commission has today adopted proposals to turn Europe into a more circular economy and boost recycling of municipal solid waste to 70% by 2025. BVSE: Better Collection & Recycling Needed, Landfill Efficient structures for the collection and recycling of waste, a strict landfill ban and the abolition of subsidies for waste to energy incineration plants in Europe, are the key components for a successful circular economy in Europe, according to the German Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management (bvse).