Written by Didier Bourguignon (7th edition),
Updated on 4.7.2018

Although waste management in the EU has improved considerably in recent decades, over a quarter of municipal waste is still landfilled and less than half is recycled or composted, with wide variations between Member States. Improving waste management could deliver positive effects for the environment, climate, human health and the economy. As part of a shift towards a circular economy, the European Commission made four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling, strengthening provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility, and streamlining definitions, reporting obligations and calculation methods for targets. After completion of the legislative procedure, the final acts were signed on 30 May 2018. Member States are required to transpose the directives into national law by 5 July 2020.
See also our at a glance note on: ‘Circular economy 1.0 and 2.0: A comparison‘.
See our animated infographic on Circular Economy.
Versions
- July 2018: ‘Circular economy package: Four legislative proposals on waste‘ (7th edition)
- March 2018: ‘Circular economy package: Four legislative proposals on waste‘ (6th edition)
- May 2017: ‘Circular economy package: Four legislative proposals on waste‘ (5th edition)
- February 2017: ‘Circular economy package: Four legislative proposals on waste‘ (4th edition)
- September 2016: ‘Circular economy package: Four legislative proposals on waste‘ (3rd edition)
- June 2016: ‘Circular economy package: Four legislative proposals on waste‘ (2nd edition)
- January 2016: ‘Circular economy package: Four legislative proposals on waste‘ (1st edition)
Proposals for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council
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Committee responsible:
Rapporteur: |
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
Simona Bonafè (S&D, Italy) |
COM(2015)593, COM(2015)594, COM(2015)595, COM(2015)596 of 02.12.2015
procedure ref.: 2015/0272(COD), 2015/0274(COD), 2015/0275(COD), 2015/0276(COD), Ordinary legislative procedure |
Procedure completed. | Directives (EU) 2018/849, 2018/850, 2018/851, 2018/852 OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, pp 93-154 |
Visit the European Parliament homepage on circular economy.
[…] circular economy action plan (see below). Employment opportunities at the different steps of the waste hierarchy (from prevention to disposal), as well as future policy options are identified and […]
Hello Everyone,
does any of you know how I can find the three CE packages (as a pdf file) from July 2014/February 2015/ December 2015?
I’m very happy about any advice:-)
Dear Sophie,
There are actually many documents for each of the packages. We are not aware of any circular economy proposal tabled in February 2015.
Perhaps a good place to start is here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm