WRITTEN QUESTION E-2653/97 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste

1. Does the Commission have an overview of the recycling quotas now achieved for glass, plastic, paper and cardboard (including composite materials), metal, wood and other materials in the Member States of the European Union?

2. Which Member States, apart from Germany, have adopted recycling quotas going beyond the requirements of Directive 94/62/EC ((OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 10. ))?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (22 September 1997)

1. At the moment the Commission does not have in its possession any reliable information concerning the recycling and upgrading rates achieved by all of the Community's Member States. Those data that are available are somewhat sparse. Thus the statistical compendium compiled by the European Environment Agency in 1995, in connection with the first report on the state of the environment in Europe ((Europe'e environment statistical compendium for the Dobris assessment (ISBN 92-827-4713-1). )), includes a chapter on waste where it is possible to find some relevant information on the matter ((See pages 282-285. )). An updated version of this report is to be published in 1998. It should also be pointed out that the Commission (Eurostat) is currently preparing a draft regulation on waste statistics which should make it possible to ensure that there is a suitable acquisition of data covering all of the aspects of this sector.

Article 12 of Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste provides that Member States shall take all necessary action to ensure that databases on packaging and packaging waste are set up in a harmonised manner where this is not already the case in order to help enable the Member States and the Commission to monitor the achievement of the aims laid down by the Directive.

For this purpose the Commission on 3 February 1997 adopted, under Article 12 of Directive 94/62/EC, a decision introducing tables corresponding to the database system referred to in Article 12 of the Directive ((Commission Decision of 3 February 1997 introducing tables corresponding to the system of databases in accordance with Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste (OJ L 52, 22.2.1997). )). Those tables are to be filled in annually. 1997 will be the first year covered by this information system.

2. Under Article 6(1) of Directive 94/62/EC Member States shall take any action needed in order to ensure that, throughout their territory and by 31 June 2001 at the latest, between at least 50% and at the most 65% by weight of packaging waste is upgraded and between 25% at least and 45% at the most by weight of all packaging material forming part of packaging waste is recycled, with a minimum of 15% by weight of each packaging material.

Article 6(5) of the Directive also provides that Greece, Ireland and Portugal may decide, for the same date, to achieve aims that are lower than those set out in paragraph 1 while nevertheless achieving 25% as regards upgrading. This is due to their particular situation, i.e. respectively: the large number of small islands, the presence of rural and mountainous areas and the low level of packaging consumption. Those Member States may also decide to postpone the achievement of the aims referred to in paragraph 1 to a subsequent date which, however, must not go beyond 31 December 2005.

Belgium, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Sweden and the United Kingdom have set upgrading and recycling aims in one form or another within their means of transposing Directive 94/62+EEC in order to achieve the result required by Article 6. Belgium and Austria have asked the Commission for an authorisation to exceed the maximum targets provided for in Article 6(1) of the Directive. Scope for this is provided by Article 6(6) of the Directive. The Commission has so far not taken any decision.

The Commission has been notified by Finland, the Netherlands and Portugal of draft regulations laying down the upgrading and recycling rates. The draft Finnish and Portuguese measures have still not been adopted. The Dutch authorities have still not informed the Commission of the adoption of their draft.

The Commission is unaware of any upgrading and recycling targets laid down in the Danish national legislation transposing Directive 94/62/EC.

Greece and Luxembourg have still not transposed the Directive and, to the Commission's knowledge, have not set any packaging waste upgrading or recycling targets.