Recycling: Legal Concepts, European Challenges, and Urban Practices

Abstract

Recycling is increasingly taking on an important role in European waste policy. Following Directive 94/62 on packaging and packaging waste, the European Commission plans to take measures in other areas, such as municipal organic waste, end-of-life vehicles, and electrical and electronic equipment. In all cases, the stated objective is to promote the recycling of ever-larger quantities of post-consumer waste. Key challenges of this policy include improving the competitiveness of the recycling sector and creating increasingly skilled jobs within this sector.

This policy has significant effects on local waste management strategies. Accordingly, the selective collection of dry and wet recyclable household waste is rapidly developing in the Community’s cities. A study conducted by the Association of Cities for Recycling (ACR-AVR) indicates that there are multiple collection and treatment methods that allow for high household waste recycling rates.

Furthermore, new waste treatment techniques for materials that escape selective collection are being developed in certain countries, notably Austria and Germany. These techniques make it possible to foresee, in the medium term, a significant reduction in reliance on incineration and landfill disposal.