Brussels, 13 October 2016 - Europe’s chemical industry is disappointed by today’s European Parliament ITRE Committee position on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive said Cefic, the EU chemical industry council representing over 29,000 EU chemical companies.

Said Marco Mensink, Cefic Director General, “The Committee has inadvertently undermined the delivery of the circular economy. Chemistry is at the heart of delivering new solutions for Europe, from innovative housing insulation to ultra-lightweight vehicles. All these industries need state of the art chemistry to enhance their environmental performance. Instead, the ITRE Committee have committed to phasing out many of these key ingredients. They have also chosen to bypass Europe’s ambitious REACH regulation and instead seek to regulate the presence of chemicals in products by way of waste regulation. We hope that a broader base of MEPs, Member States and the Commission choose a more balanced and environmentally sound approach.”

At the moment, the legal framework for managing waste in Europe – a key component of the circular economy strategy – is a patchwork quilt. EU member states have flexibility in how they apply the contents of the Directive, which has in this case led to fragmentation across the EU and lost chances to boost sustainability. Harmonisation would support industry to increase the reuse of waste materials where possible. For example, what’s classed as a useful reusable waste substance in one member state is sometimes classed as unusable in another, preventing companies from sending these materials across borders to close the 'loop', and also meaning potential efficiencies are lost. The red tape involved in doing so is also unsynchronized and causes uncertainty for industry as they strive to ensure legal compliance.

Background

Launched in 2008, the EU Waste Framework Directive sets a framework for waste management, such as definitions of waste, recycling, recovery. It explains when waste can be used as a secondary raw material, and distinguishes between waste and by-products. The Directive requires waste be managed without endangering human health or harming the environment, for example without risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals.

The EU chemical industry has long recognized that waste is a valuable resource and emphasizes chemical safety as the guiding principle for managing by-products. The industry also a solid track record in waste management and as an industry, and its manufacturing processes are often organized around concepts of industrial symbiosis which is both cost-effective and beneficial to the environment.

Contact: Dervla Gleeson, Cefic Media Relations Manager (dgl@cefic.be) +32 2 676 72 89