The Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of waste was published by the Commission in December 2005 together with a proposal for a new Waste Framework Directive.

The EEB supports the objective to achieve a low waste and recycling society. Prevention and recycling play a key role in the sustainable management of resources and the fight against climate change. The promotion of prevention and recycling should therefore be at the heart of the new EU framework for waste policy.

In February 2007, the European Parliament called for clear EU-wide recycling and prevention objective in its first reading opinion. However, in December 2007, the Council adopted a common position ignoring this call. (See decision making process and EEB report card on the European Parliament's first reading on the Waste Framework Directive)

The EEB together with Friends of the Earth Europe commissioned a study to assess the significant climate benefits potentials of EU recycling targets. An EU recycling target of 50% for municipal solid waste by 2020 would help Europe to save 247 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, which is like taking 87 million cars off the road.

The EEB calls for the Waste Framework Directive to :

- include an EU objective of 50% minimum recycling levels for municipal solid waste and 70% for industrial, manufacturing and construction and demolition waste

- include a clear waste prevention objective, starting with stabilisation of waste generation by 2012 and a mechanism to set further reductions

- establish the 5-step hierarchy as a binding general rule for waste management policy

- reject the re-classification of municipal incinerators as a recovery operation (see a critical review of the energy efficiency formula)

- establish a Waste Consultative Forum to allow all stakeholders to work together to improve the implementation of EU waste legislation

-avoid any loopholes such as loose "by-product" definition mechanism. Modification of teh very definition of waste should follow an EU-level harmonised precautionary approach

Next steps:

April 2008 - vote of the Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

June 2008 - Plenary vote of the European Parliament