The European Commission has initiated or intensified infringement proceedings against 14 EU Member States for failing to meet binding recycling targets. In addition to requirements for municipal waste, this also concerns several recycling targets for packaging waste. The Commission is calling on the affected states to strengthen their efforts in view of the increasing requirements of the PPWR and the circular economy.
As part of its July infringement package, the European Commission has initiated or intensified legal proceedings against a total of 14 Member States. The basis for this is the latest reported recycling data. Germany, Greece and Cyprus are affected by new letters of formal notice, while Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Romania are affected by reasoned opinions, as deficits persist despite proceedings initiated in 2024.
Several packaging recycling targets not met
In addition to the requirements of the Waste Framework Directive, the Commission also checked compliance with the recycling targets of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. Among other things, this directive prescribes an overall recycling rate of 55 to 80 percent for packaging waste and material-specific rates for glass, paper and cardboard, metals, plastics and wood.
According to the Commission, several of these targets were missed between 2020 and 2023. Croatia failed to meet the overall packaging targets, as well as those for glass and metals. Cyprus and Portugal remained below the target values for glass. Greece, Hungary, and Romania missed both the overall packaging quota and the glass quota. Malta failed to meet the targets for overall packaging, as well as for paper and cardboard, and metals. Germany, on the other hand, is mentioned in the current proceedings solely because of the recycling rate for municipal waste.
Commission calls for more speed
The Commission points out that achieving recycling targets is crucial for building a European market for secondary raw materials and strengthening the circular economy. At the same time, it refers to the higher recycling targets that will apply from 2025 and in the years 2030 and 2035. The Member States concerned now have two months to respond to the concerns. Otherwise, the Commission may take further steps, including legal action before the European Court of Justice.
Source: European Commission
