European Parliament approves Circular Economy Package

The European Parliament has approved the European Union’s Circular Economy Package (CEP), backing higher recycling targets and new measures for waste reduction. The text now goes to the European Council for final approval of ministers before it becomes law and marks a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy. This is expected in May.

Based on the document, at least 55% of municipal waste from households and businesses should be recycled by 2025, and 65% by 2035. As for packaging materials, 65% must be recycled by 2025, and 70% by 2030.

Separate targets are set for specific packaging materials, such as paper and cardboard, plastics, glass, metal and wood, the statement from the yesterday’s session reads.

Until January 1, 2025, all member-states will need to set up a separate collection for textile and hazardous waste from households. Until the last day of December 2023, bio-waste also has to either be collected separately or recycled at source.

Food waste should be reduced by 30% by 2025 and 50% by 2030.

The draft law also limits the share of municipal waste being landfilled to a maximum of 10% by 2035.

“The European Parliament said yes to the circular economy by a very large majority. This marks the end of three years of work, but above all it marks the beginning of a challenge for Europe,” said EP member Simona Bonafe, via her Twitter.