The European Parliament has passed the European Green Deal proposals, but called on the Commission to propose targets for separate collections and waste reduction, as well as urging more market support when the final legislation is rolled out.
First unveiled by president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in a plenary debate in December, the Green Deal sets out how Europe will look to become the world’s “first climate-neutral continent by 2050”.
The European Parliament voted in favour of the Green Deal proposals in a sitting on Wednesday, January 15
The resolution was adopted with 482 votes for, 136 against and 95 abstentions. Poland has opted-out of the legislation.
Pascal Canfin, chair of the environment committee, said: “Parliament overwhelmingly supported the Commission’s proposal on the Green Deal and welcomes the fact that there will be consistency between all European Union policies and the objectives of the Green Deal.
“Agriculture, trade and economic governance and other policy areas must now be seen and analysed in the context of the Green Deal.”
Targets
The European Parliament expressed a desire for more ambitious green targets, including a plan to become climate neutral by 2050 and to require a higher 2030 emission reductions goal for Europe of 55%.
The Commission was urged to step up EU measures further against plastic pollution, with wider restrictions on and the substitution of single-use plastic items.
A further demand was made for the development of legislation to address over-packaging and to ensure that all packaging that is not reusable or recyclable in an economically viable manner is not allowed on the EU market by 2030 at the latest.
MEPs also called for sustainable investment plan to help close the investment gap and an adequately funded just transition mechanism.
Circular economy
FEAD, the European federation representing private waste management companies, welcomed the resolution.
The Green Deal set out the EU plans to be ‘climate neutral’ by 2050
It expressed support for policy measures for sustainable products, including an expansion of the scope of ecodesign with legislation making products more durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable, and a strong ecodesign and eco-labelling work programme from 2020 onwards.
Peter Kurth, FEAD’s president, said: “I see the vote in the European Parliament’s plenary as a strong and positive signal for making a true circular economy happen, through two key measures aiming at creating a strong demand for recyclates, namely mandatory recycled content in products and green public procurement rules.
“The latter should not simply act as guidance, but should rather be compulsory rules, as the public sector is the biggest consumers of goods.
“To enable this change, a capacity of green purchase of goods in the public sector is needed.
“By enforcing green public procurement measures, we can truly kickstart the market for sustainable products and therefore increase the reincorporation of recycled materials back into use.”
The deal is currently at proposal stage and the Commission will now take on board what the European Parliament says before coming back with further legislation and targets for the Parliament to vote on.
When the UK leaves the European Union on 31 Janaury, it will enter into a transitional period where it will adopt and abide by any laws passed by the European Union. If a stricter carbon target is introduced, the UK will adopt it into law after the transition period.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
