Politics

| The 2019 World Resources Forum will take place in Antwerp, Belgium from Sunday 24 to Wednesday 27 February. Co-organised by the Public Waste Agency of Flanders(OVAM) and the World Resources Forum (WRF).

| According to the Circularity Gap Report by Circle Economy, only 9% of materials are reused globally.

| The EU has taken a small step towards cutting waste and greenhouse gases from manufacturing of popular consumer goods.

| After a very brief negotiation process, EU politicians have transformed what could have been a great opportunity to implement the Waste Directives’ rationale and to achieve efficient waste management into a superficial legislative text.

| European Bioplastics (EUBP) fully supports the transition from a linear to a ‘no-leakage’ circular and bio-based economy in Europe.

| The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) welcomes the provisional agreement on the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP) setting a binding target of at least 25% of recycled plastic for PET beverage bottles from 2025 onwards and a target of 30% of recycled content by 2030 for all plastic bottles.

| FEAD rejoices as the final trilogue on the Single-Use Plastic Directive yields a positive vote for a 30 % mandatory recycled content in all beverage bottles by 2030, with an intermediary target of 25% in 2025 for PET bottles.

| In a bid to combat marine litter, Norway has submitted a proposal to restrict exports of plastic waste, by amending the Basel Convention.

| EU governments have supported first-ever repairability measures for fridges despite opposition from manufacturers and hesitation from the European Commission. The same progressive approach may now also be applied to other popular products, NGOs understand.

| On 24th October, the European Parliament agreed on an amendment setting up a target of 35% mandatory recycled content in plastic bottles for beverages, as a necessary complement for ensuring the success of the 90% collection target proposed by the Commission.

| Carpet manufacturers, industry associations and civil society join voices to make the carpet industry go circular, and urge the European Commission and Member States to adopt mandatory rules to push the whole sector in this direction. Launched by Zero Waste Europe, the call to action is supported by DSM-Niaga, Interface and Tarkett.

| British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) welcomes the publication of Government’s findings as a result of its consultation on Proposals to tackle crime and poor performance in the waste sector and to introduce a new fixed penalty for the waste duty of care. However, we are disappointed that key objectives of the consultation will not be addressed or have now been postponed.

| The congress, taking place on March 20 – 22, 2019, in Vienna will bring together all the links in the ELV recycling chain from car manufacturers, metal and plastic scrap traders, recyclers, shredder operators to policy-makers from all over the world.

| FEVE, FERVER, EXPRA and EuRIC are committed to increasing the quality and efficiency of the glass recycling value chain through separate collection, quality recycling and closed loop manufacturing of glass.