Source: European Parliament
Chemical recycling, in particular for hard-to-recycle waste plastics not suitable for mechanical recycling or where specific quality requirements need to be reached, can play an important role in reducing reliance on virgin resources for plastic production and avoiding incineration.
It has the potential to help to meet the EU’s ambitious targets for recycling plastic waste and increasing recycled content in plastics. This will also lower environmental impacts, advancing EU’s circular economy objectives.
To foster the business case and provide investment security, the Commission is developing a clear, science-based and technologically neutral framework to ensure that chemical recycling technologies can play an important role in meeting these objectives. The first step will be under the Single-Use Plastics Directive[1].
The mass balance accounting rules will adhere to the definition of ‘recycling’ within the Waste Framework Directive[2], which excludes converting waste into fuels. These rules will support new state-of-the art installations and existing infrastructure alike.
The Commission intends to consult stakeholders on a draft text on these rules and to adopt the implementing decision in 2025.
To further support plastic recycling, the Commission will be analysing measures, such as harmonisation of End-of-Waste criteria for the plastic waste.
- [1] Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, OJ L 155, 12.6.2019, p. 1-19.
- [2] Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3-30, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109-140.