NEWSLETTER N° 207 – 24 FEBRUARY 2025

Spring is (almost) in the air… even in policy!

Yes, the news cycle still feels like a never-ending winter, but like the first birds of spring fluttering back, there are signs of change. Last week, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the Waste Framework Directive, setting new targets to reduce food waste and introducing extended producer responsibility for textiles. Meanwhile, Eurostat’s latest data on municipal waste generated offers some insights into Europe’s progress (and challenges) in waste management. 

So while the world stage may still be chilly, at least in Brussels, policy-making is thawing and gearing up for action and better weather…

Waste Framework Directive (WFD): The Council Presidency and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on the Waste Framework Directive setting targets for food waste and textile waste. 

Clean Industrial Deal – The Greens/EFA’s vision: On 19 February, the political groups The Greens/EFA published their vision for a Clean Industrial Deal.

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF): On 12 February, the European Commission opened a consultation on the MFF; notably on the contours of the future ‘competitiveness fund’ which would gather several programmes related to ‘strategic sectors and technologies essential to the EU’s competitiveness’. 

Municipal waste by waste management operations – Eurostat data: On 13 February, Eurostat updated its database on municipal waste generated in the EU and its management by waste operators. 

Monitoring report on progress towards the 8th EAP objectives – EEA Report: On 20 February, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a report on the progress towards the 8th Environment Action Program objectives (8EAP). 

PFAS – France passes law: On 20 February, the French National Assembly adopted a law which introduces a framework and taxation of PFAS. 

EU Ship Recycling Regulation: On 19 February, the Commission adopted the evaluation of the ship recycling Regulation. 

Ship Recycling – European list of Ship Recycling Facilities : On 18 February, the Commission adopted the new Implementing Decision on the list of ship recycling facilities in Europe. 

Green Deal – Scientist letter: On 12 February, over 2000 European scientists, and 31 scientific organisations, published an open letter expressing deep concerns for the future of the Green Deal. 

Carbon Removals – European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) report: On 21 February, the ESABCC published a report on scaling up carbon dioxide removals in Europe. 

RecyClass: On 18 February, APR and RecyClass announced that they have jointly recognised MCC’s ‘SealPPeel’ technology applicable on PP packaging tubs as fully compatible with both PP white and coloured recycling streams in the United States and Europe. 

FEAD News: The GRINNER Project and Batteries Roundtable Members (WEEE Forum, EuRIC, FEAD, EUCOBAT, Municipal Waste Europe, WEEELABEX) organised a roundtable on ‘The challenges of lithium battery fires in the management of e-waste’ on 18 February in Brussels. 

On 7-8 April, in collaboration with our Bulgarian member, BRRA, we are organising a series of events in Sofia, Bulgaria. This includes our first General Assembly of the year, as well as a guided tour of Sofia, a networking session and a visit of a plastic recycling and/or sorting facility near Sofia. These events are reserved exclusively for FEAD members. More information.