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Ask your Environment Minister to set new waste targetsThe European Union is changing Europe's main waste law, the Waste Framework Directive.
A year ago, the European Parliament backed our demands for new recycling and prevention targets.
Now we need Environment Ministers to support these European targets in their discussions, which are happening now.
Please click on the map below to email the Environment Minister from your country.
See the background information below the map, if you want to know more.
A large part of the waste regulation in every European Union (EU) country is decided at EU level. These laws are now under review.
We in Europe have a responsibility to use resources as efficiently as possible, and to minimise our impacts on climate change.
We can save energy and cut climate pollution by:
The review so far
Changes to the Waste Framework Directive were first proposed by the European Commission in 2006.
One year ago, the majority of the European Parliament backed our key demands in their first reading vote.
The Parliament voted that EU countries should stabilise their waste production at 2008 levels by 2012, and recycle 50% of municipal waste (waste from households and similar wastes) and 70% of industrial, construction and demolition waste by 2020.
MEPs also rejected a proposal to re-brand so-called efficient' incinerators which would have led to an increase in incineration.
Following this vote, EU governments decided their view on the revision, and decided to ignore the Parliaments demands for targets.
The legislation is now starting a second reading, where another attempt will be made to reach agreement between parliament and EU Governments.
