EU Thematic Strategies

August 2005

The European Commission is in the process of developing seven thematic strategies and recently announced publication dates:

• Natural Use of Resources - September 2005 (at earliest), expected for October 2005
• Waste Prevention and Recycling  - September 2005 (at earliest), expected for October 2005
• Soil Protection - autumn 2005

The European Commission is currently consulting on measures for inclusion in the soil protection strategy. Details

Each thematic strategy will be published with a Commission Communication and an impact assessment. The strategies on Soil Protection and Waste Prevention & Recycling will include proposed legislation.

The Commission is working on the Natural Resources Strategy in parallel to the Waste Prevention and Recycling Strategy. The two will be issued together. Rather than proposing further EU legislation for specific waste streams (which, singularly, only cover small percentages of the entire waste stream), the Waste Prevention and Recycling Strategy aims to set European standards for waste management that can be applied to all waste streams. The Natural Resources Strategy is to act as the knowledge base for the Waste Prevention and Recycling Strategy.

In addition, the Commission will be proposing a revision of the 1975 Waste Framework Directive (WFD). This is to bring it into line with the modification of waste technology and to clarify waste definitions in line with recent European Court judgements. It is expected that the Commission’s proposals for amending the WFD will be issued in the autumn.

Thematic Strategy on Prevention and Recycling of Waste
At a meeting of the Council of European Environment Ministers on 28 June 2004 a number of conclusions were adopted including:

• the need for close linkages with the initiatives on Integrated Product Policy and the Resources Strategy
• the parallel development of the resources and recycling strategies
• the need for more effective implementation of EU legislation
• the need to consider waste prevention and recycling within a broader strategy for waste management including energy recovery and the landfill of residual waste
• a call for the Commission to bring forward as soon as possible the legislative proposals on compost and sewage sludge
• support for materials based recycling targets
• development of a level playing field through the application of common recycling standards (both for recycled materials and for recycling facilities)
• the need to stimulate the demand for recycled materials through green procurement
• implementation of landfill levies should remain at Member State level
• expressed reservations about Pay As You Throw schemes at EU level

ESA is represented by FEAD on a European Steering Group which will oversee development of the Thematic Strategy. FEAD has also established a task group to monitor the progress of the Strategy and to co-ordinate input to the Commission's steering group. ESA will be represented on this group by Berian Griffiths, Chairman of ESA's Resource Management and Treatment Committee.

European Commission information

Thematic Strategy on Prevention and Recycling of Waste

Thematic Strategy on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

ESA Briefing: Commission's Thematic Strategy on Prevention and Recycling of Waste