Effective implementation of separate collection: a key element of success of the SUP Directive

In an attempt to stem the flow of plastic pollution entering our oceans, the European Commission (EC) adopted the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment on 2 July 2019. The focus now is on the implementing Acts and Guidelines, which are to be completed by the EC between July 2020 and January 2022.

Reloop is concerned about a concerted effort by some interests to re-interpret the legal definition of “separate collection” as it relates to compliance of Article 9 of the Directive. Article 9 clearly infers that only those plastic beverage bottles that are collected separately can be counted towards the targets (90% by 2029, and 77% by 2025). All efforts should be made to reach the target, without having to pull bottles out of the residual waste, recognizing that the SUPD’s primary objective is to reduce litter from single-use plastic products and circulate high-quality plastic for bottle to bottle recycling.

Today in Brussels, Reloop and Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) co-hosted a short luncheon on this topic to present the findings of a recently commissioned legal brief on the interpretation of Article 9. In addition to the brief, a discussion paper by Eunomia Research and Consulting was released which highlights the legal and calculation issues surrounding the targets, and provides the EC with clear recommendations for the development of methods for demonstrating achievement of the targets. Both documents recognize that measuring waste management performance by weight is complicated, but stress that there is a path forward, which requires a closer look at the data and ensuring that adjustments are made to account for the loss of non-target material.

Clarissa Morawski, Chief Executive Officer of Reloop, said: “The proper calculation of Article 9 targets is critical to achieving meaningful measurement and to know exactly what material is collected for recycling, without all of the inaccuracies that have been reported for years, until now.”

Downloads

• Press Release 
• Legal opinion: German, English
• Getting the Numbers Right: A discussion paper on calculating & reporting separate collection of plastic beverage bottles

Event Photos

Video

Press Contacts

Clarissa Morawski

CEO, Reloop Platform

E-mail: clarissa.morawski@reloopplatform.org

Tel:  +34 (0) 636 70 80 95

 

Dominic Hogg

Chairman, Eunomia

E-mail: Dominic.Hogg@eunomia.co.uk

 

Joan Marc Simon

Executive Director, Zero Waste Europe

E-mail: jm.simon@zerowasteeurope.eu

Tel: +32 (0) 2736 2091

 

Reloop’s work on the SUP Directive

• Material substitution within the SUP Directive: Policy Briefing(January 2020)
• What is Plastic? A Study Exploring the Potential for Certain Materials to be Considered as Exempt from the Single-Use Plastics Directive, with Particular Focus on Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres(January 2020)
• Implementation of the Single Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904 – Phase 1: General and product specific definitions, explanations, criteria, and product markings(October 2019)
• Position Paper on the proposal for a directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment(November 2018)
• Position Paper on the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (COM(2018)340)(July 2018)
• Position Paper on the European Commission’s Strategy on Plastics(March 2018)
• Position Paper on the upcoming European Commission’s Strategy on Plastics(January 2018)
• Position Paper on the European Commission’s Legislative Proposals on Waste under the Circular Economy Package(February 2016)