Brussels, 25 July 2024
The European Commission decided to open an infringement procedure by sending letters of formal notice to all member states:
- Belgium (INFR(2024)2121),
- Bulgaria (INFR(2024)2128),
- Czechia (INFR(2024)2137),
- Denmark (INFR(2024)2138),
- Germany (INFR(2024)2122),
- Estonia (INFR(2024)2123),
- Ireland (INFR(2024)2130),
- Greece (INFR(2024)2132),
- Spain (INFR(2024)2147),
- France (INFR(2024)2141),
- Croatia (INFR(2024)2133),
- Italy (INFR(2024)2142),
- Cyprus (INFR(2024)2131),
- Latvia (INFR(2024)2144),
- Lithuania (INFR(2024)2143),
- Luxembourg (INFR(2024)2124),
- Hungary (INFR(2024)2134),
- Malta (INFR(2024)2135),
- Netherlands (INFR(2024)2125),
- Austria (INFR(2024)2120),
- Poland (INFR(2024)2126),
- Portugal (INFR(2024)2145),
- Romania (INFR(2024)2136),
- Slovenia (INFR(2024)2127),
- Slovakia (INFR(2024)2129),
- Finland (INFR(2024)2140)
- Sweden (INFR(2024)2146)
for failing to meet waste collection and recycling targets.
Based on the latest available data reported by Member States, all have failed to meet several waste collection and recycling targets laid down under the current EU waste legislation.
The Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC on waste as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851) sets legally binding targets for preparing for reuse and recycling of municipal waste. Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden failed to meet 50% target for 2020 of preparing for reuse and recycling of municipal waste (such as paper, metal, plastic and glass).
In parallel, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (Directive 94/62/EC as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/852) applies to all packaging distributed within the European market and any resulting packaging waste, regardless of where it is used. By 31 December 2008, it required that between 55% and 80% of all packaging waste must be recycled. The established recycling goals for various materials include 60% for glass, 60% for paper and cardboard, 50% for metals, 22.5% for plastics, and 15% for wood but many of these targets were missed.
Furthermore, the Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) (Directive 2012/19/EU as amended by Directive (UE) 2024/884) requires the separate collection and proper treatment of WEEE and sets targets for their collection, recovery and recycling. The minimum collection rate to be achieved annually by the Member States is 65% of the average weight of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the three preceding years in the Member State concerned, or alternatively 85% of WEEE generated on the territory of that Member State.
The majority of Member States failed to collect sufficient WEEE separately and therefore missed the EU collection target. Member States should boost their implementation efforts in order to meet the abovementioned obligations. In that respect, Member States could rely on the country-specific recommendations identified in the 2023 Waste Early Warning Report. This will also help Member States to meet the forthcoming targets of 2025, 2030 and 2035, established by the recent amendments of the EU waste legislation. The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to each of the 27 Member States which now have two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the Commission. In the absence of satisfactory responses, the Commission may decide to issue reasoned opinions.
Source – EU Commission