Waste Framework Directive finalised

The new European Waste Framework Directive has been finalised, after MEPs voted on 17th June to accept a deal with member state governments.

The final deal includes Europe's first ever general recycling targets, though unfortunately they are not as strong or as ambitious as we wanted them.

Also, the directive delays setting a waste prevention target till 2014, and re-brands some incinerators as ‘recovery' rather than ‘disposal'.

However, we made considerable progress in improving the draft Directive published in December 2005. The deal will become law by the end of 2008, and then EU Governments will have two years to incorporate the changes into their law.

Thank you for taking action to strengthen the Directive.

For more information, please see:

Press release - EU waste policy not fit for future http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/eu_waste_policy_not_fit_fo_18062008.html

Friends of the Earth Europe
http://www.foeeurope.org/activities/waste_management/index.htm