Politics
EU microplastic ban just got a step closer, but has major loopholes
| EU plans to stop firms adding microplastic to almost all products have major loopholes that would keep pollution flooding into the environment for nearly a decade and reward unproven biodegradable plastics, environmental groups are warning.
‘Mass balance approach’ blocks ambitions for increased recycled content in plastics
| In a joint letter, Zero Waste Europe, ECOS, and nine other signatories call upon the European Commission (EC) to avoid a flexible ‘mass balance approach’ method in determining recycled content in plastic products.
Study: Zero waste systems could create thousands of jobs
| A new study from the international environmental alliance GAIA finds that cities that invest in zero waste programs and policies create numerous good, green, jobs in addition to the known benefits of reducing pollution and improving community health.
Including Waste-to-Energy in EU ETS won’t help sustainable waste management
| ESWET welcomes the public consultation on the EU ETS’ revision and calls for an efficient EU waste management framework aligned with the EU Green Deal.
Private waste management sector welcomes European Parliament resolution
| FEAD, the European Waste Management Association, representing the private waste management industry across Europe, welcomes the EP’s resolution on the new CEAP.
MEPs and Member States call for a more social and circular transition
| Yesterday, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted positively on a text calling for a more ambitious Circular Economy in the EU
European Parliament demand targets against over-consumption
| MEPs confirm push for targets to curb over-consumption and decouple economic growth from resource use – an unprecedented move that could help Europe transition to a more resilient and less wasteful economy.
MEPs call for tighter EU consumption and recycling rules
| Parliament adopted comprehensive policy recommendations to achieve a carbon-neutral, sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050 at the latest.
Investment in additional Waste-to-Energy (WtE) capacity only if needed
| The need for WtE depends on the amount of unavoidable unrecyclable waste that society produces.
New report lays bare the fashion industry’s addiction to fossil fuels
| The global fashion industry has developed a dangerous addiction to synthetic fibres, which are made from climate-destroying fossil fuels like oil and gas, to power its fast fashion business model, according to a new report.
Policies boost demand for global waste-to-energy market
| The global waste to energy market is expected to rise in demand as conventional energy sources are depleting rapidly while contributing to harmful emissions.
EuRIC: Boosting metal recycling in Europe
| Reaching climate neutrality by 2050 will require drastic changes throughout all value chains, in particular for energy-intensive industries such as metal production.
ESWET’s comment on the Circular Economy report by the EU Parliament.
| On 27 January 2021, the EU Parliament released a balanced report on the path to Circular Economy.
Plastics, a growing environmental and climate concern
| The ever-increasing amount of plastic, its impact on biodiversity and contribution to climate change, and how to deal with it in a circular economy perspective have been on the European Union’s policy agenda for years.
