The challenges facing waste collection

EU auditors say that many EU countries struggle to meet the targets for reusing and recycling municipal waste.

Instead, it is said, they still rely too heavily on landfill because of financial constraints and weaknesses in their waste management plans.

This is according to a report published today (26 November) by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).

The auditors found that the current recycling market faces challenges, separate waste collection remains at a very low level in some cases, and the disposal tariffs that citizens are charged do not necessarily cover all waste management costs.

Comment came from Stef Blok, the ECA Member responsible for the audit.

Blok said: “Circularity is a key enabler for realizing the EU’s sustainable development goals. To achieve these goals, the EU should create the conditions necessary for a viable recycling industry.

“Citizens and businesses play a crucial role. Fiscal incentives, as well as requiring citizens to pay for the volume or weight of waste they generate, can encourage them to separate and reduce waste.”

The report says there are significant differences in how municipal waste targets are met across the EU – with little or no progress in a few member states – but the European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings slowly (for 2008 targets, they started only in 2024).

Another key challenge, according to the auditors, is the viability of the recycling industry.

If there are not enough recycling facilities, targets cannot be met, but such facilities are either scarce in some member states, or – particularly those for plastics – risk closing due to rising costs, poor demand for their output, and imports of cheaper plastic from outside the EU.

The auditors stress that providing a business case for recyclers is necessary, starting with identifying the demand- and supply-side challenges that affect the single market for circular products and secondary raw materials.

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