WASTE MANAGEMENT : COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS CALLS FOR AMBITIOUS TARGETS.

In an opinion adopted on 4 July, the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) proposes ambitious new targets on waste production, collection, treatment and recycling and asks the European Commission to take "all its recommendations" into account when drafting the communication on waste management that it plans to present in 2014.

The EU throws away three billion tonnes of waste each year, ie six tonnes of solid waste per person per year, notes rapporteur Michel Lebrun (EPP, Belgium). "This is not just harmful for the environment, but also has a direct impact on human health. As we are still in an economic crisis, it is essential to ensure that all policies support economic development. Waste management is a priority that can support competition with the number one goal of decoupling waste production form economic growth," he explained.

The CoR notes the need to consider the reasons for non-compliance with existing targets to account for the different levels of services, infrastructure and financial investment in waste management between local authorities. It calls for the standardisation of measurement and definition of waste across the EU, which will allow clear comparisons to be made between member states and EU regions, enabling progress assessment and ensuring consistency. EU subsidies should be granted only upon the submission of waste management plans. The CoR proposes:

- reducing 2010 levels of waste by 10% by...