22 April 2008

Embargo:       None

 Update on EU Waste Framework Directive

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has voted on Second Reading amendments to the new Waste Framework Directive. During voting the Committee removed all reference to by-products, a welcome move and a major lobbying success for ESA.

The Committee also re-asserted recycling targets by 2020 for household waste (50%), construction and demolition waste and industrial/commercial waste (70%), as well as waste stabilisation targets.

ESA is carefully analysing the detail of further amendments made by the Committee, and the most likely area for further lobbying may be excessively restrictive permit conditions.

Commenting, ESA Chief Executive Dirk Hazell, said: “Caroline Jackson MEP, the Rapporteur on this Directive, has drawn on exceptional knowledge in steering a Directive which has been the subject of many hundreds of amendments.”

While there could be further delays, the Directive could be finally agreed in July.

ENDS

For further details see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/FindByProcnum.do?lang=2&procnum=COD/2005/0281