EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermanns has rejected criticism that the new circular economy package is less ambitious than the proposals of the previous Commission, which were withdrawn. At a press conference on Wednesday in Brussels, Belgium, he described the new package as "very ambitious, but realistic”.
Mr Timmermans underlined that the set of measures tabled by the Commission on Wednesday covered "the full circle” and not just waste, and set "a clear pathway” to reaching the new targets. The legally binding 10 per cent limit for the landfilling of municipal waste from 2030 is a new aspect and will mean a huge effort in many member states, according to Mr Timmermans. He said that the Commission developed the new targets based on the present situation in the member states and on an evaluation of "what is ambitious but still feasible”.
The Commission’s new proposals include a target for member states to recycle or prepare for reuse at least 65 per cent of municipal waste arisings by 2030. This minimum quota could in theory be raised to 70 per cent should a review of the situation in 2025 show good progress towards this target.