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Generation and recycling of packaging waste (CSI 017/waste 002) - Assessment published Nov 2005
Generic metadata
Tags:
Typology: Descriptive indicator (Type A – What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
- CSI 017
- waste 002
Geographical coverage:
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- Contents
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Key policy question: Are we preventing the generation of packaging waste?
Key messages
There is a general increase in per capita quantities of packaging being put on the market. This is not in line with the primary objective of the Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste, which aims at preventing the production of packaging waste.
However, the EU target to recycle 25% of packaging waste in 2001 has been significantly exceeded. In 2002 the recycling rate in EU15 was 54 percent.
Packaging waste generation per capita and by country
Note: N/A
DG Environment and the World Bank
Generation of packaging waste and GDP in the EU-15
Note: N/A
DG Environment and Eurostat
Key assessment
Only the UK, Denmark and Austria have reduced their per capita generation of packaging waste since 1997; in the remaining countries, the quantities have increased. However the 1997 data are less certain than those
for later years, due to first-year problems of newly established data collection systems, which in turn may influence the apparent trends.
Between 1997 and 2002 the growth in packaging waste generation in the EU-15 almost followed the growth in GDP: generation increased by 10 % and GDP by 12.6 %.
There are large variations between Member States in the use of packaging per capita, ranging from 87 kg/capita in Finland to 217 kg/capita in Ireland
(2002). The average 2002 figure for the EU-15 was 172 kg/capita. This variation can be partly explained by the fact that Member States have differing
definitions of packaging and understanding of which types of packaging waste need to be reported to DG Environment. This illustrates the need to harmonise the methodology for reporting data in accordance with the directive on packaging and packaging waste.
Specific policy question: Do we manage the generated waste (packaging) in a sustainable way?
Recycling of packaging waste by country, 2002
Note: N/A
DG Environment
Packaging waste generation per capita and by country
Note: N/A
DG Environment and the World Bank
Targets of the packaging and packaging waste directive
Note: N/A
Specific assessment
The target of 25 % recycling of all packaging materials in 2001 was achieved by a good margin in virtually all countries. Seven Member States already comply with the overall recycling target for 2008, when not taking the 'new' material, wood, into account. The total EU-15 recycling rate increased from 45 % in 1997 to 54 % in 2002.
As with consumption of packaging per capita, the total recycling rate in Member States in 2002 varied greatly, from 33 % in Greece to 74 % in Germany.
To achieve these targets, several Member States have introduced producer responsibility and established packaging recycling companies. Other countries have improved their existing collection and recycling system.
Data sources
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Population statistics (Eurostat)
provided by Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) -
Data on packaging and packaging waste (Eurostat)
provided by Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) -
National accounts, including GDP (Eurostat)
provided by Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat)
More information about this indicator
See this indicator specification for more details.
Contacts and ownership
EEA Contact Info
Jasmina BogdanovicOwnership
EEA Management Plan
2010 (note: EEA internal system)Dates
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