WRITTEN QUESTION E-0375/02

by Hartmut Nassauer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2002)

Subject: Framework Waste Directive 91/156/EEC and Directive 94/31/EC questions on the present situation in Europe with regard to waste and the recovery/recycling of waste

1. According to the EU's Framework Waste Directive (Council Directive 91/156/EEC(1) of 18 March 1991 amending Directive 75/442/EEC on waste) and Council Directive 94/31/EC(2) of 27 June 1994 amending Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, the term recycling or recovery covers both mechanical and feedstock recycling processes and energy recovery. Is this correct?

2. To what extent are waste incineration capacities in Europe currently being utilised, excluding hazardous chemical products?

3. To what extent are incineration capacities currently being utilised in Europe:

(a) for thermal treatment in the context of waste management, and

(b) for energy recovery?

4. What is the current cost in Europe per tonne of waste:

(a) for thermal treatment, and

(b) for energy recovery?

5. What processes exist in Europe for recycling plastic waste in general, and plastic sheeting and PVC sheeting in particular?

6. Which of the processes mentioned in paragraph 5 above can be classed as:

(a) mechanical recycling,

(b) feedstock recycling,

(c) energy recovery?

7. What capacities exist in Europe for the recycling processes mentioned in paragraph 5 above in the areas of mechanical and feedstock recycling and energy recovery?

8. How much do the following processes cost in Europe:

(a) mechanical recycling,

(b) feedstock recycling, and

(c) energy recovery?

9. Has there been any investigation into the market opportunities in Europe for products manufactured in recycling plants?

10. What market opportunities are predicted in Europe for the individual products of the various recycling processes?

(1) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 32.

(2) OJ L 168, 2.7.1994, p. 28.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 2002)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that some of the information relating to the economics and the technicalities of recovery of plastics is not in the hands of the Commission.

1 and 6. The words recovery and disposal are defined in Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste(1) by reference to a list of operations. The word recycling is not as such defined but the list of recovery operations in annex II B of this Directive defines certain operations by using the word recycling.

The two operations of Annex II B of Directive 75/442/EEC mentioned in the question are:

- Recovery operation R1: Use principally as a fuel or other means to generate energy;

- R3: Recycling/reclamation of organic substances which are not used as solvents (including composting and other biological transformation processes).

Processes that are commonly referred to as feedstock recycling of plastics include a number of very different processes. Some of these would be considered as a direct energy recovery operation (R1) while others have as end product substances or polymers that may be either reused for their material content or for their energy content. Thus, depending on what type of recovery is taking place, the processes would either fit in R1 or R3 operations.

2. to 5. and 7. to 10. Certain documents and studies already available or which will shortly be made available on the Commission's web site(2) may contain some relevant information.

Further information on recycling processes and on market opportunities for the recycling of materials including plastic waste will be gathered to the extent necessary for the preparation of the thematic strategy on recycling which is programmed in the 6th Environmental Action Programme. Any studies containing such information will also be made available through the Commission's web site.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(2) Relevant studies in page http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/facts_en.htm include: Mechanical recycling of PVC wastes, Prognos; Chemical Recycling of Plastics Waste (PVC and other resins), TNO; Evaluation of Costs and Benefits for the Achievement of Reuse and the Recycling Targets for the different Packaging Materials in the Frame of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC; Cost of Municipal Waste Management in the EU, Ecotec (still to be uploaded).Other information may be available in COM(1999) 752 or from page http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/events/recycling/recycling.htm.