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.
Despite 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 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