Recycling Industry urgently calls for the adoption of EU-wide end-of-waste criteria for plastic wastes
As announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, the new Circular Economy Act will aim to create market demand for recycled materials and to establish a single market for waste. In this context, the development of harmonised end-of-waste (EoW) criteria for plastic waste, in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 2008/98/EC, is essential to achieve a truly circular economy for plastics in Europe.
EU-wide EoW criteria, specifing when plastic waste ceases to be waste, is imperative and essential to create a level playing field, eliminate market barriers and foster trust in recycled materials. This is particularly important in the current context of low demand of recycled plastic and low prices of virgin plastic, together with ambitious recycled content targets. Moreover, the new waste export rules, banning plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries as of 2026, will create a surplus of waste available in the EU, which will intensify the need for a strong internal EU market for recycled plastics.
