Extended Producer Responsibility –EU guidance

OECD Global forum

17-19 June 2014,Tokyo

Michel SPONAR,

European Commission, DG Environment

Outline

1. Background • Why EPR?

• EPR – main lessons

2. New study on EU EPR's Approach, objectives

Main results

3. Key principles for guidance

4. Conclusions – next steps

Additional study on EPR

Objective

• Identify 'golden rules' and/or minimum requirements for

sound EPR schemes

Approach

• Comparison of the performances of existing EPR's

• For 6 waste streams in depth analysis of 6 case studies

• Identification of the best practices

• Combination of desk research, interviews and stakeholder

consultations

Timing

• Study to be published on July 2th 2014

4

Batteries ELV Packaging WEEEGraphic

PaperOils

Austria Sweden Germany Ireland Finland Belgium

Switzerland Netherlands BelgiumUnited

KingdomFrance Finland

Belgium Germany Netherlands Finland Netherlands Germany

DenmarkSlovak

RepublicAustria Latvia Sweden Spain

Netherlands AustriaCzech

RepublicFrance Italy

France Finland France Denmark Portugal

United

KingdomSweden

General findings

• Around 200 EPR schemes operational in the EU

• Packaging, WEEE, ELV's and tyres and batteries dominant

• But also: paper, oil, medicine, textile, furniture, specific

hazardous waste, agriculture foil, etc.

• Confirmation of the variety (cost efficiency, type of

organisation, responsibility, control etc.)

• Lack of comparability/transparence

• No one singe model

Packaging – fees paid/recycling rates

Figure 1: Cost effectiveness of EPR schemes on packaging (2010 or 2011)

Note: The x-axis starts at 50%.

Key principles

Objective: Improve cost effectiveness/acceptability of EPR

schemes by a combination of :

Legislation

Recommendations/guidance

At European/ OECD, National/Regional and local levels

Supporting measures are essential: Landfill/Incineration

taxes/bans, pay as you thrown systems,

incentives/penalties for municipalities

Clear objectives

• Define EPR and clarify its objectives

• High environmental standards

• Take back obligation

• Not to be mixed with EcoDesign Directive (condition to

place a product on the market)

• What if profitable chain? Added value compared to

administrative burden

• Definition of targets

• Aligned with the waste hierarchy

• Recycling/reuse - at least EU targets

• Prevention?

Permanent dialogue

• A permanent dialogue between all involved actors

producers - retailers - citizens – waste collectors –

municipalities/private operators – sorters – recyclers –

authorities in charge of controlling the system

• Clear definition of the responsibilities – who is responsible

for what?

Ensure transparency / control

Combination of public and auto control based on risk analysis

• Clear verified and accessible reporting

• Audits by third parties

• Maximum level for overall costs, rules for reserves

• Enough public resources

• Efficient actions against free riders (average % maximum)

• Focus on statistics and quality/reliability

• Specific measures for small producers/importers

• Export of waste

Fair competition

• Clear procedures to designate operators (open

tenders/standard cost reimbursement in the case of

municipalities)

• Non-discrimination for producer/importers

• Specific rules for specific waste streams/products

• One or several collective schemes?

• Profit/non profit?

• Who should own the collective schemes?

True and full costs

• True cost principle - fees have to be linked to exact

costs/recyclability of the products

• Full cost principle

• Collection, sorting minus revenues from sales of

materials

• Safety nets – control of costs

• Full coverage of the territory by an high density

collection network (adapted to habitat)

• Information

• Littering? Surveillance?

Conclusions – next steps

Publication of the study (early July)

Adoption by the Commission of the package on 'circular

economy' including revised targets and minimum EPR

requirements (2014)

Co decision procedure in 2014/2015 (European Council and

Parliament)

Development of guidance document on EPR

Thank you for your attention !

Additional sources of information:

DG ENV “waste” website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment//waste/index.htm

Study on Economic Instruments: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/use.htm

Additional study on EPR: http://epr.eu-smr.eu/

Target review: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/target_review.htm