The European Commission’s Environment Directorate-General has published a "Green Paper on a European Strategy on Plastic Waste in the Environment" on Thursday and launched a public consultation. Its aim is to consult stakeholders on "possible responses to the public policy challenges posed by plastic waste which are at present not specifically addressed in the EU Waste legislation", the Commission said.
According to the EU body, follow-up to the Green Paper will be an integral part of the planned wider review of EU waste legislation that is to be completed in 2014. This review will look at the existing targets for waste recovery and landfill diversion and review the impact of five Directives covering specific waste streams, including the Directives on packaging and packaging waste, end-of-life vehicles and waste electrical and electronic equipment.