Introducing alternatives, and recycling more plastic, would clean up our seas, reduce litter on land, and create jobs, according to London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert.

She said that the economic potential of recycling plastics is still largely unexploited. Only 25% of plastic wastes are currently recycled.

“Better management of plastic waste could save €72 billion a year, boost the annual turnover of EU waste management and recycling firms by €42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020,” she said.

Ms Lambert, who last year considered the implications of better use of plastics on jobs for the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee, said:

“Parliament has today made clear the need for the EU to do more to tackle the pervasive problem of plastic waste and its impact on health and the environment.

“These bags are very low-hanging fruit when it comes to reducing unnecessary plastic waste, and its impact on the environment. As a number of member states have already shown, the use of these bags can be significantly reduced with effective policy-making.

“While member states should be free to go further, there should be ambitious and obligatory EU reduction targets and plastic bags should always come at a cost, otherwise plastic bag consumption will continue to grow.

“Single-use plastic bags are an outdated solution to the problem of how to take our shopping home, and I am delighted MEPs have this week voted to set a timetable for their withdrawal from use – and agreed to phase out the use most harmful types of plastics, and dangerous plastic additives (oxo-biodegradable plastics, certain phthalates and brominated flame retardants) completely.”

MEPs also called for restrictions on land-filling or incinerating plastic waste – and a review of EU packaging legislation.

The resolution will now be considered by the European Commission, which is expected to publish legislative proposals later this year.

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Five years ago, a change in European-wide legislation for the collection and recycling of batteries signalled new hope for the gradual removal of some of the most toxic substances found in batteries from the market place and called time upon the dumping of hundreds and thousands of used batteries in landfill sites across Europe.  A noticeable break from previous, inefficient legislation which had failed to adequately address the health and environmental risks posed by waste batteries, the battery directive sought to strengthen Europe’s transformation into a recycling society.  By creating a comprehensive framework for collection and recycling, it was hoped that the legislation would both help to protect the health of European citizens and contribute to making the consumption and production of batteries in the EU more sustainable.

Comprehensive legislation of this type was long due.  Prior to the 2006 directive, more than 45 per cent of all portable batteries in the EU, some 72,000 tonnes, were sent to landfill sites for incineration, each one capable of polluting one cubic metre of soil or 400 cubic metres of water.  Moreover, this flagrantly wasteful practice meant that Europe was standing idly by whilst thousands of tonnes of valuable secondary raw materials were being consigned to the dustbin – a truly shameful and unsustainable waste of vital resources.

Five years on and the directive is still a work in progress with Greece, the final member state to adopt the legislation, only coming on board in 2010.  With the first implementation report due in 2013, it’s not yet possible to see whether the ambition of a battery recycling Europe has been realised, but some countries are giving cause for hope.

Belgium, for example, has already met its 2012 recycling and collection targets by creating a network of over 20,000 battery recycling points across the country in schools, supermarkets, petrol stations and retail outlets.  The scheme is undoubtedly expensive – the price to recycle a battery in Belgium costs three times as much as the EU average – but its success cannot be questioned. The Netherlands is similarly on board, whilst Germany and Norway are calling for the original recycling targets to be raised even further ahead of the first 2012 deadline.

Unfortunately, for other countries, such as the UK, there is still quite a mountain to climb.  The directive requires that 25 per cent of portable batteries placed on the market each year are collected for recycling, rising to 45 per cent in 2016.  Recent figures show that the collection rate in the UK is estimated to be a mere three per cent. Perhaps even more disheartening are the results of a recent YouGov poll which reveals that nearly half of the people in the UK have never recycled a household battery, with a further 45 per cent of respondents claiming not to know where to take batteries for recycling, despite the rollout of thousands of battery recycling collection points across the country.

Whilst initially promising in scope and reach, the different approaches taken by member states in implementing the directive had led to an unsatisfactory, patchwork quilt effect, comprising of numerous standards and practices of varying quality.

Where is Europe to go from here if we are to achieve a truly robust and effective battery recycling system? First, given the length of time member states have had to transpose the directive into national legislation, the commission must not shy from pursuing stringent legal enforcement action where countries have failed to install effective measures to meet the 2012 target.  Member states have had ample time to make good progress, no matter what their initial starting point.

Second, batteries cannot be recycled without a good collection scheme in place.  A 2008 trial carried out by the UK’s waste and resources action programme found that kerbside collections were by far the most effective way of collection spent batteries for recycling, with retail take-back schemes and community drop off points far less likely to collect the amount of batteries necessary to meet the 2012 or 2016 collection targets.  Such examples of best practice must be shared and used.

Finally, Europe must be more ambitious in eradicating the highly toxic metal cadmium, by far the most problematic of hazardous substances found in batteries. Whilst the agreement in the directive on a general phase out of cadmium is to be welcomed, the inclusion of a derogation from the phase for the use of cadmium in accumulators for power tools, which accounts for over two-thirds of cadmium battery use, adds a sour note. Europe must grasp with both hands the opportunity to scrap this derogation which is now under review.

Europe can have sustainable and well balanced legislation to eradicate the truly harmful risks posed by spent cells as well as an effective system for the collection and recycling of batteries alongside ambitious targets.  The review of the directive offers us the possibility to make progress.  Will member states be able to summon up the political will?

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As Green MEP for London, the third best performing region for recycling in the country, Jean warned that although there have been many improvements, urgent progress still needs to be made before the UK matches the efforts of other EU member states.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the ‘transformation’ themed Recycle Now Week, funded by WRAP, Jean commented; “Each household in the UK produces over 1 tonne of rubbish every year, that’s over 30 million tonnes each year for the UK as a whole.  It is vital to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill or incineration and recycling plays its part in that.

“Recycle Now Week 2007 will really inspire people to redouble recycling efforts at home, school and in the office.  By recycling just one aluminum can enough energy will be saved to run a television set for three hours – an achievement that is essential as we face the climate crisis before us.

“Compared to the rest of Europe the UK has been slow at implementing European legislations aimed at helping recycling levels and the environment as a whole.  What we need to see now is Government support for these opportunities that really could ‘transform’ our future”

ENDS

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Jean said: “As a member of the European Parliament I have the opportunity to compare and contrast the UK’s recycling performance with that of other countries – and it’s not at all impressive.  Recycling rates in the UK are around 18% where as countries like the Netherlands achieve around 64%.  We can’t let resources go to waste.

“British people are not any different to our fellow Europeans and, as we have seen from recent recycling activities, are willing to change habits quickly to reach challenging targets. There really is no excuse for the UK’s poor performance. It now remains to be seen if local councils can live up to the standards of our European neighbours and implement successful recycling schemes, accessible to everyone, throughout entire Boroughs.”

Shasha Khan, Green Party candidate in the Bensham Manor by election added:

“Croydon Council has repeatedly failed to meet its recycling targets, yet all we’ve had for the past couple of years is empty promises, party ‘spin’ and resources pumped into marginal wards. Croydon is currently languishing near the bottom of the UK’s recycling league table (3). Council resources should be allocated on the basis of public need not political benefit. While residents in Addiscombe, Waddon, Norbury and Shirley enjoy their garden waste, cardboard and plastics collected, the rest of us have to find other means to get these items recycled.”

Notes:

(1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4620041.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4243294.stm

(2) USA Environmental Protection Agency, quoted in http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4620041.stm

(3) English local authorities – performance on waste (2005/60
http://www.letsrecycle.com/info/localauth/league/2005ranked.jsp

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With many effective doorstep collection schemes now in place across London Jean said it was quite simple for everyone to make a difference and ensure this festive season is the Greenest ever.  Jean commented; “This time of year can be one of the most wasteful seasons but with over 50,000 bottle banks available around the UK, combined with other collection centres, there really is no excuse for Londoners not to reuse and recycle resources.

“As much as 83 km of wrapping paper, that’s enough to cover an area larger than Guernsey, will be sent to the rubbish bin over Christmas so its vital that when unwrapping gifts we remember to recycle as much as possible.

“After a few drinks make sure you recycle your bottles and cans. Just one recycled can saves enough energy to run a TV set for three hours and recycling one bottle will power a 100 watt light bulb for almost 1 hour!

“Climate change grows more serious every day and we simply can not afford to ignore this over the festive season. By thinking before we throw we can all look forward to a greener 2007.”

ENDS

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Jean Lambert, who submitted a formal objection against the plant deeming the proposal as another excuse for incineration, today said; “With efforts to install London’s Sustainable waste strategy combined with hard work to encourage recycling and meet targets it is astonishing that proposals for a gasification plant were not halted at the very beginning.  However it is now particularly disappointing that as the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has not stepped in at this vital time, to bring an end to such a detrimental plant and champion a more sustainable solution.

“Granting planning permission for the gasification plant simply contradicts the waste hierarchy adopted by the Mayor, the UK Government and the EU, placing recycling ahead of energy from waste and incineration.

“Londoners are now making greater efforts to recycle but by not stopping the plant going ahead the Mayor of London will have missed a significant opportunity to encourage further achievements.“

ENDS

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