Legislation

European Union Legislation on Packaging and Packaging Waste

The main objective of directive 2004/12/EC, amending directive 94/62/EC, on Packaging and Packaging Waste is to prevent packaging waste by encouraging packaging re-use and recycling while at the same time avoid distortions in the internal market.

The directive requests that Members States introduce systems for the return and/or collection of used packaging and defines specific targets for packaging waste recovery and recycling. The targets defined are the following:

  • Recovery of minimum 60% by weight of the packaging waste
  • Recycling of at least 55% and a maximum 80% by weight of the totality of packaging materials, with a material-specific minimum recycling rate for plastics of 22.5%.
     

These targets need to be achieved by December 31, 2008 for 12 of the Member States and by December 31, 2011 for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

As far as the 10 "new" countries are concerned, the European Commission submitted a proposal to the Parliament and the Council suggesting that they be given until up to 2015 to meet the targets.

Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia are to meet the 2004 objectives by 2012, however, they have adopted an amendment which gives Malta an additional year to comply, Poland an additional two and Latvia an additional three.

 

Background documents

 

For additional information on the Packaging
and Packaging Waste directive:

European Parliament

European Commission

  • Directorates General in charge of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive:

Further information on EU waste management regulations

Commission Databases:

Scadplus EU Waste Management Overview
Eur-Lex - Analytical register - Environment, consumers and health protection - Waste Management and Clean technology
- Green paper on Integrated Product Policy: COM (2001) 68 - final
Pre-Lex Inter-institutional procedures - The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive

Implementing measures of the Packaging and Packaging Waste directive

  • Decision 97/129/EC - Establishing the identification system for packaging materials
  • Decision 97/138/EC - Establishing the formats relating to the database system
  • Decision 97/622/EC - Concerning questionnaires for Member States reports on the implementation of certain Directives in the waste sector
  • Decision 1999/177/EC - Establishing the conditions for a derogation for plastic crates and plastic pallets in relation to the heavy metal concentration levels
  • Decision 1999/652/EC - Confirming the measures notified by Belgium
  • Decision 2001/171/EC - Establishing the conditions for a derogation for glass packaging in relation to the heavy metal concentration levels
  • Decision 2001/524/EC - Relating to the publication of references for standards
  • Report [COM(1999) 596 - final] - The interim report provides the Council and the European Parliament with Member States' practical experience gained in pursuance of the targets.