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Circular Economy proposal fails to deal with Europe’s food waste problem

After a year of waiting, we now have a new Circular Economy proposal. And it is worse than the old one. Last year, campaigning by Friends of the Earth and its allies halted plans by the European Commission to foolishly scrap much needed resource use, waste management and recycling legislation.

Waste dumpDespite promises to increase its ambition, the new proposal  – released today – is notably weaker than its predecessor.

The Circular Economy package intends to increase recycling levels and reduce the reliance of EU industry on finite raw materials. Not only does this make business sense, it is good for the planet too.

While today’s proposal remains an improvement on the status quo, it falls short in many areas:

  • The target for reuse and recycling of municipal waste has been reduced to 65% by 2030, as opposed to the previous package’s target of 70%.
  • The previous package contained a target mandating EU member states to reduce food waste by 30% between 2017 and 2025. The new proposal sets no targets.
  • There is no longer a target for an overall reduction in the total amount of resources we use.
  • If you can’t measure it you can’t manage it. Despite this, the Commission has ducked earlier plans to measure the ‘four footprints’ of land, water, carbon and raw materials.

The Commission’s proposal is a disappointment in that it doesn’t nearly go far enough. It is now on the Parliament and Member States to ensure that high recycling targets are maintained, and that binding obligations to reduce absolute resource consumption are included in the final package.  Samuel Lowe, Resource Use Campaigner

There is growing pressure for political and industry action to tackle the scandal of food waste in the UK. We need the Commission to show leadership by setting a clear target for reduction and taking strong action to ensure governments and industry across Europe take action on food waste. Kierra Box, Food Campaigner

The proposal will now be considered by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament before a vote next year.

Friends of the Earth will be campaigning in support of an improved Circular Economy package.

Post written by Sam Lowe,  2nd December 2015

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