European Council Adopts Circular Economy Package

On 22 May 2018, the European Council adopted four Directives known as the “Circular Economy Package”. The Directives amend the following Directives of European waste legislation:

• Directive 2008/98/EC on waste
• Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste
• Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators
• Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment
• Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles
• Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste

The main objectives include increased waste avoidance and higher recycling rates: For example, the rates for packaging waste increase as follows: From 2025, 65% and from 2030 70% will be recycled. A recycling rate of 50% will apply to plastic packaging until 2025. A rate of 55% applies until 2030. Furthermore, there will be reuse targets for textiles, used electrical equipment and bulky waste. By 2025, 5% should be reused, by 2030 at least 15%. The rate of reused sales and transport packaging placed on the market must also be increased. After publication in the EU Official Journal, the Directives will become effective 20 days later. From that date, Member States will have two years to transpose the rules into national law.