However, the waste disposal association warns of gaps in the protection of the recycling industry.
 

On 11 February, the European Commission in Brussels presented its work programme for 2025. As already announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the seven thematic areas include the circular economy and competitiveness. The planned regulatory packages are intended in particular to reduce bureaucracy and facilitate investment. To this end, as reported by Recyclingmagazin, the Commission wants to revise sustainability regulations such as the Taxonomy Regulation or the EU Supply Chain Law and reduce strategic reporting requirements. According to Recyclingmagazin, the programme includes 46 legislative initiatives, 31 evaluations of existing regulations and the withdrawal of 37 legislative proposals, which, however, do not affect the waste management and recycling industry. The BDE, the German Federal Association for Waste, Water and Recycling Management, welcomes the Commission's work programme, but warns of serious gaps with regard to essential measures to protect the recycling industry. According to BDE President Anja Siegesmund, for example, competition-endangering plastic imports and fires in plants would pose an existential threat to the industry. Imports of primary plastics from third countries at dumping prices, declared as recyclates, would force even large disposal companies to close their recycling plants. In view of this, the BDE is calling on the EU Commission to take swift action to protect the recycling industry, such as stricter controls on plastic imports to safeguard competition and a Europe-wide battery deposit system.
 
Sources:

• Press release BDE (17.2.2025)
• Recyclingmagazin (17.2.2025)
• Photo: © BDE / Marc Vorwerk