Recycling Rates and Effects
Dipl.-Ing.(TU) Werner P. Bauer
I recently learned that the European Union is obliging its member states to pay own resources contributions of €0.80 per kilogram of non-recycled plastic packaging waste. The EU refers to the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/595 on Article 5(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/770.
For Germany, assuming a plastic packaging volume of approx. 2 million tons per year and a current recycling rate of 40%, this amounts to approx. 960 million euros.
I am very pleased that we were able to discuss this aspect in more detail with Bertram Zwisele. I had three questions on this:
1. Do the other EU countries also have to make these payments?
3. Should these "penalty payments” also be extended to other material flows?
Dr. Bertram Zwisele:
The answer is quite simple.
1. the Member States of the European Union are obliged under Article 5(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/770 to submit data on the generation and recycling of plastic packaging waste ("Annual Survey”). This data must be submitted by July 31 for the penultimate reporting year.
2. and yes, there are standardized measurements for which it is required that the respective material flow quantity placed on the market be compared with precise measurements of the non-destined disposal paths (e.g. plastic packaging in mixed municipal waste). 3. whether the extension of penalties/incentives is also being considered for other material flows is something I cannot assess at the moment; presumably the effect on plastic packaging will be awaited first.
Many thanks Bertram.
Obviously, there are still many requirements for the methodology of the analysis around the design guidelines in a truly uniform way. I find it interesting that it doesn't seem to matter whether the non-recycled packaging plastics end up in a landfill or are used for energy recovery.
Yours,
Werner Bauer
Vice President of GWC
Comments:
A knowledgeable expert from the WtERT community asked us to post this message as a reply to the blog:
Hello,
apparently not everything is running smoothly after all 😉 - a report worth reading!
Special report 16/2024: EU revenue based on non‑recycled plastic packaging waste – A challenging start hindered by data that is not sufficiently comparable or reliable
European Court of Auditors (https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications?ref=SR-2024-16)
The EU plastics tax consists of a national contribution calculated at €0.8/kg of non-recycled plastic packaging waste.
In 2023, the revenue from the plastics tax amounted to €7.2 billion. For Germany, this is €1.4 billion from the federal budget.
Statements from the report:
-The average recycling rate has remained relatively stable over the last ten years and currently stands at 40.7%.
-No checks are carried out to ensure that the waste received by recycling companies is actually recycled or whether the recyclates have actually been processed into other products.
-It is not common practice for recycling plants to have scales for weighing plastic packaging when it enters the recycling process.
- Recycling companies stated that recycling was not economically viable for many types of plastic packaging, as virgin plastic was cheaper than recycled plastic and there were no viable sales opportunities. There is therefore a risk that recycling companies will not process the plastic packaging waste they receive.
-Europol's serious and organized crime threat assessments carried out in recent years show that this type of crime [illegal dumping] is a significant threat and a focus of Europol's work. (...) [It] stresses that illegal waste disposal is linked to organized crime and money laundering. The analysis also notes that it is one of the most lucrative illegal activities in the world, as the risk of prosecution is low and the fines are low.” [paragraphs 80 and 81]
Hello,
apparently not everything is running smoothly after all 😉 - a report worth reading!
Special report 16/2024: EU revenue based on non‑recycled plastic packaging waste – A challenging start hindered by data that is not sufficiently comparable or reliable
European Court of Auditors (https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications?ref=SR-2024-16)
The EU plastics tax consists of a national contribution calculated at €0.8/kg of non-recycled plastic packaging waste.
In 2023, the revenue from the plastics tax amounted to €7.2 billion. For Germany, this is €1.4 billion from the federal budget.
Statements from the report:
-The average recycling rate has remained relatively stable over the last ten years and currently stands at 40.7%.
-No checks are carried out to ensure that the waste received by recycling companies is actually recycled or whether the recyclates have actually been processed into other products.
-It is not common practice for recycling plants to have scales for weighing plastic packaging when it enters the recycling process.
- Recycling companies stated that recycling was not economically viable for many types of plastic packaging, as virgin plastic was cheaper than recycled plastic and there were no viable sales opportunities. There is therefore a risk that recycling companies will not process the plastic packaging waste they receive.
-Europol's serious and organized crime threat assessments carried out in recent years show that this type of crime [illegal dumping] is a significant threat and a focus of Europol's work. (...) [It] stresses that illegal waste disposal is linked to organized crime and money laundering. The analysis also notes that it is one of the most lucrative illegal activities in the world, as the risk of prosecution is low and the fines are low.” [paragraphs 80 and 81]
13.03.2025 22:49:48
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