July 26, 2024 15:22

If the threat of the SUP Directive was not enough (read news), Italian Government received two more formal notice letters yesterday for incorrect application of European regulations on waste and recycling, leading to the initiation of two infringement procedures.

The first "penalty card" was issued to our country for not correctly transposing certain provisions of the 2018 Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851), including extended producer responsibility (EPR), ensuring high-quality recycling, separate collection of hazardous waste, and implementation of an electronic traceability system.

Italy, along with 17 other EU countries, also failed to meet the 50% target by 2020 for preparing for the reuse and recycling of urban waste (such as paper, metal, plastic, and glass). In our country, this is partly due to the revision of the calculation method introduced at the EU level, which lowered the value estimated by Ispra, above the required threshold.

The Commission has urged all member states to meet the waste collection and recycling targets, which in many cases have not been achieved. By December 31, 2008, the directive required that between 55% and 80% of all packaging waste be recycled. The targets for different materials are: 60% for glass, paper, and cardboard; 50% for metals; 22.5% for plastic; and 15% for wood.

A second issue concerns waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which requires a minimum collection rate of 65% of the weight placed on the market in the three preceding years, or alternatively, 85% of the WEEE generated in the territory. According to Brussels, these targets have not been met by most member states, including Italy.

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