The European Parliament has endorsed several changes to the EU Commission’s proposed update to the Waste Framework Directive that would help support social enterprises working in the field of re-use and repair. The full parliament agreed to back a number of changes proposed in January by the Environment Committee. The vote represents an important step towards a final legislative text; negotiations on a final deal will now begin with member state governments.
Whilst some details could still change during these negotiations, RREUSE welcomes the following amendments in particular:
- a definition of ”preparing for re-use” that exclusively refers to products / materials that have become waste;
- a definition of recognised ”preparing for re-use” operators;
- separate, ambitious “preparing for re-use” targets;
- promotion of the use of social clauses in tendering procedures to support the role of social enterprises in waste management;
- preferential access to the waste stream for social enterprises active in preparing for re-use activities, in order to sort potentially re-useable goods;
- encouragement of waste prevention in the construction and demolition sector through the use of pre-demolition audits;
RREUSE hopes that this ambition will be maintained throughout negotiations between the European Parliament and Council.
Read More:
RREUSE position on the Commission’s Circular Economy Package available here