Page 7 - Environmental_Ecology

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The basic principles of a circular economy are to maintain resource value in the economic cycle for as long
as possible and to prevent and reduce the negative effects of obtaining primary resources on the environ-
ment and society. Rising demand for and supply of primary resources weaken the EU’s material self-suf-
ficiency and put pressure on the environment. For this reason among others, recycling is one of the main
ways to reduce the consumption of primary resources by replacing them with secondary materials made
of recycled waste.

In 2015, the European Commission adopted the action plan for the circular economy. This plan contains
a vision and a list of concrete actions along the whole value chain aimed at moving towards a circular
economy in Europe, including in relation to design and production, through consumption to waste and
secondary raw materials management. EU waste policies include a number of specific provisions and
targets for the collection, recycling and diversion from landfill of different waste streams, such as
packaging, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and municipal and biodegradable municipal waste.

The purpose of this indicator is to show the rate of Europe’s progress towards the goal of recycling more
waste. Municipal waste, packaging waste, waste excluding major mineral wastes and waste electrical and
electronic equipment (WEEE) are used as examples; these waste streams represent significant sources of
secondary materials and also, especially in the case of WEEE, sources of critical raw materials. In 2018, new
targets for packaging waste were adopted: to achieve a minimum recycling rate by weight of all
packaging waste of 65 % by the end of 2025 and a minimum of 70 % by the end of 2030. Targets have also
been set for the recycling of individual packaging materials (i.e. plastic, wood, ferrous metals, aluminium,
glass, paper and cardboard). 1

1.6 Examples and best practices

Numerous initiatives have been developed by different stakeholders in order to promote waste recycling
and fight with waste and contribute to the circular economy. Here are some of the examples:

1.6.1 To good to go (in France)

It is an application that allows everyone to get involved in the fight against food wastage on their own
scale, by enjoying themselves and forging close ties. Shopkeepers no longer throw away; you eat while
reducing wastage, the environment is better off. It’s a triple win, and so simple that you wonder why you
didn’t think of it before.
2

1.6.2 Reduce waist (European level)

This initiative was created in the framework of Interreg financed EU project; The platform aims to identify
regional, national and international opportunities for avoiding food waste and present it to its member
organizations and individuals as a starting point for joint projects and strategies. The annual conferences,
meetings, workshops and awards organized within the framework of the project should contribute to the
active exchange of all participating organizations and, moreover, effectively involve the whole society. 3

1 https://www.europarc.org/european-policy/eu-2020-biodiversity-strategy-7th-environmental-action-programme/
2 https://toogoodtogo.fr/fr
3 http://www.reducefoodwaste.eu/