Mixed waste sorting

This policy brief explains why taking a holistic approach to policies addressing packaging design for recyclability, separate collection systems—including deposit return for beverage containers—and further sorting of municipal mixed waste prior to thermal treatment or landfill, is necessary if the EU is to meet its recycling and carbon emissions reductions targets and achieve real circularity. We have also included EU policy-specific recommendations.

Download the Evidence paper summary

Read the full report by Eunomia on Mixed Waste Sorting to meet the EU’s Circular Economy Objectives

Eunomia was commissioned to examine the potential role of “mixed waste sorting” (MWS) to complement separate collections of municipal waste in the EU, and to consider whether higher levels of recycling and
improved climate change performance can be achieved through this further sorting of municipal waste for recycling prior to thermal treatment or landfill, i.e., “mixed waste sorting” (MWS).

The results were considered through the lens of the policy framework in the EU according to which each member state is obligated to achieve the:

• key packaging waste recycling targets by material in 2025 and 2030; in particular the plastic packaging waste recycling target of 55% by 2030 established in the 2018 revision to the Packaging and Packaging
Waste Directive (PPWD); and

• municipal waste recycling target of 60% by 2030 established in the 2018 revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), increasing to 65% by 2035.