Combatting waste crime

Based on a comprehensive stakeholder consultation, plastics are identified as one of the five priority areas in the EU Action Plan for a circular economy together with food waste, critical raw materials, construction and demolition as well as biomass and bio-based products. Every year, Europeans generate 25 million tonnes of plastic waste, but less than 30% is collected for recycling. Across the world, plastics make up 85% of beach litter. And plastics are even reaching citizens' lungs and dinner tables, with microplastics in air, water and food having an unknown impact on their health. Building on the Commission's past work, on 16th January 2018 it was adopted the first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics, which aspires to introduce a new vision to reconsider the way we produce, use and reprocess plastics, to improve the design of plastics and to increase their reuse and recycling, and, therefore, contributing to the circular transition by keeping the value of plastics in the economy and minimizing plastic waste generation . The goal is to protect the environment whilst at the same time lay foundations to a new plastic economy, where the design and production fully respect reuse, repair and recycling needs and more sustainable materials are developed.

In addition to this, on 5th June 2019 a new Directive 2019/904/EC on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment was adopted containing extensive elements of waste prevention encouraging member states to implement waste prevention measures, especially for single-use plastic items for which a more sustainable product alternative does not exist, such as information to consumers, market-based instruments and product design requirements. According to this directive, plastic is defined as a material consisting of a polymer within the meaning of Article 3(5) of Regulation 1907/2006, to which additives or other substances may have been added, and which can function as a main structural component of final products, with the exception of natural polymers that have not been chemically modified.

Durability of plastics is one of the key features of this material, which has made it both highly successful and environmentally damaging . However, at European level, the low demand of recycled plastics, low commodity prices and uncertainties about market outlets has hindered the development of EU plastic recycling sector, which remains underdeveloped and fragmented . Recognizing that currently in Europe only 30% of plastic waste is collected for recycling and most recycling operations take place outside Europe, where environmental standards may be significantly lower , European Commission took the initiative in this field considering that plastics can make a major contribution towards circular economy helping to achieve a more resource-efficient and circular European recycling industry .

Brief overview of the EU Waste Law and Policy
Clelia Antico

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