In order to provide more relevant and timely information, as well, as based on your positive feedback, we decided to move from quarterly to bi-montly publication of our Newsletter. I have the pleasure to share with you the first September/October 2017 EXPRA Newsletter.
As usual, the autumn season if full of major developments and events: the Trialogue on the CEP is evolving, as well as another important EC project: the EU Plastic Strategy, planned to be published in the beginning of December 2017. EXPRA and its members are of course actively involved in these developments: not only as members of Expert group on financing the Circular Economy and the Coordination Group of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (CESP), but also in promoting unique and innovative solutions as well as excellence in EPR performance.
As said, in Europe, The Trialogue, or the Interinstitutional negotiations between the three EU institutions: the Parliament, the Council and the Commission on legislative proposals are entering their final stage. On 25 October, the EU institutions met for the fourth round of negotiations on the waste package. During the meeting they agreed on some technical provisions within the Waste Framework Directive such as: disposal operations, waste hierarchy and hazardous waste, including dilution and mixing of hazardous waste. They also made a progress to varying degrees on extended producer responsibility schemes, backfilling, food waste, waste management plans and waste oils.
Worldwide, a major event for all waste management professionals was the ISWA 2017 World Congress that took place on 25–27 September 2017, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Proper functioning waste management is more and more on the agenda of countries around the world. Increasing health issues to the public by illegal dumpsites, even caused by legal but badly managed landfills, and especially marine litter, the plastic soup, the fact that we might have more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050 has alarmed governments in nearly every country of the world. They all look for the right action to start, they all look for solutions which are working in some countries. In this regard, the Canadian and European EPR systems are gaining a lot of interest from other parts of the world. Therefore, the ISWA Working Group on Governance and Legal Issues, which I have the pleasure to chair since 4 years, has been asked to organize 3 sessions on EPR: on the Role of Extended Producer Responsibility in the Circular Economy; The view of International Adoption of Extended Producer Responsibility and on the real life Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility in Various Countries for Various Products.
This interest in functioning European solutions with regard to proper waste management was also the reason that EXPRA and our Spanish member Ecoembes have been invited to participate in the EC Circular Economy Mission to Colombia, organised by DG ENVI and aiming to increase the cooperation between EU and Colombia on environmental issues through a political dialogue that allows for an exchange of good practices and experiences.
At National level, there are many important and interesting developments: As you can see in our News from members section, EXPRA members are involved in many and diverse activities – from supporting eco design and prevention to raising public awareness and promoting environmentally responsible behavior of consumers.
Enjoy your reading!