EUROPEN’s new in-depth analysis of official EU data on the evolution of packaging waste rates (1998-2011) demonstrates the packaging supply chain’s continued commitment towards Europe’s resource efficiency objectives. This is reflected in yearly increases in packaging recycling rates and a steady decline in packaging waste going to landfill.
“The launch of the report is timely for EUROPEN members and stakeholders amid the current European Commission review of the EU targets in the Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) and the forthcoming proposals for new EU packaging targets in May 2014. The report’s facts and figures will further inform the discussion and will help to establish achievable targets for all packaging materials”, stated Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of EUROPEN, on the announcement of the organisation’s updated report on packaging & packaging waste data for 1998-2011.
Recovery rates – and in particular recycling rates – in the EU-27 continue to increase, as the amount of used packaging sent for final disposal is declining rapidly. By the end of 2011, 64% of packaging placed on the market in EU-27 was being recycled, largely exceeding the 55% minimum recycling target currently set by the PPWD. In the older Member States (EU-15), 65% of the packaging placed on the market was recycled; 51% was recycled in the newer Member States (EU-12), but the PPWD targets do not apply to these countries until 2012 or later.
Source: envirocentre.ie