Packaging and packaging waste: recovery and recycling of waste

Pending receipt of the European Parliament's Opinion, the Council established a general approach on the broad thrust of the amendment to Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, although without the support of the Belgian or Netherlands delegations. The Permanent Representatives Committee was instructed to examine the European Parliament's Opinion as soon as it was available so that the Council could adopt a common position. The text approved by the Council is based on a Presidency compromise and provides inter alia for: - 31 December 2008 as the general deadline for taking the measures needed to achieve the recycling targets, with an additional period of four years for Greece, Ireland and Portugal on account of their specific situation; - a maximum target of 80% for the recycling of packaging waste and no maximum target for recovery; - minimum targets for the recycling of materials contained in packaging waste: 60% for paper and board; 60% for glass; 50% for metals; 22,5% for plastics, counting exclusively material that is recycled back into plastics; 15% for wood. The amendment of the 1994 Directive follows from a provision whereby new targets are to be set for 2001-2006 and, subsequently, every five years.�