The European Parliament has taken a position on the Packaging Ordinance. The BDE Federal Association of the German Waste, Water and Waste Management Industry welcomes the trend-setting definition and changes to the placing on the market of recyclable packaging.
„22 November is a Good day for packaging recycling. Parliament's plenary has voted in favour of the Environment Committee's report with amendments. This means that the MEPs have achieved nothing less than a milestone,“ explained the deputy chairman. BDE- Managing Director Dr Andreas Bruckschen on Friday in Berlin.
On Wednesday afternoon, the parliamentarians in their
Plenary session of the Submission approved. They were in favour of only allowing recyclable packaging to be placed on the market from 2030. They also voted in favour of regulations on the design of plastic packaging, which must be based primarily on mechanical recycling from this date. In addition Ambitious recyclate utilisation rates for plastic packaging apply. The association is pleased that the plenary session - like the Environment Committee before it - has clearly rejected regulations on a credit-based system for recyclates.
The proposed regulation also contains restrictions for compostable packaging, the rotting periods of which are to be orientated towards biowaste treatment plants. The additions made by the plenary session include a Amendment to mandatory reuse quotas, which will also apply from 2030. For example, there should be exemptions in accordance with the waste hierarchy if recycling is more favourable in environmental terms than reuse.
However, a formulation according to which the member states may grant „secure and equal access“ to recyclate in order to „maintain the quality for similar applications" is still included. This hints at the idea of a right of first access.
„It is now up to the Council to clearly reject the idea of a right of first access. It is to be hoped that the Council will also find its position on the regulation this year so that the trialogue negotiations can be concluded before the end of the legislative period next year if possible. This would allow the new EU packaging regulation for the circular economy to enter into force as soon as possible.“
Dr Andreas Bruckschen, Deputy Managing Director of the BDE
Source: BDE
