Are you also confused by the many colours of waste bins that exist for each waste fraction, and especially, how they differ from country to country and from town to town?
You’re not the only one and this situation creates a very fragmented landscape for waste collection. Bringing in some harmonisation would have many advantages: less confusion leads to better waste sorting and collection by citizens and possible economies of scale for recyclers downstream.This in turn can help create a true single market for secondary raw materials and increase overall recycling rates.
Taking into account existing success stories and in close dialogue with stakeholders from local authorities, waste collectors and civil society, the JRC is devising possible ways to bring a certain level of harmonisation in the way waste is collected in the EU. This may include uniform labelling of waste collecting bins or bags, but also possibly phasing out waste collection practices that yield low quality recycled material. For every possible measure, JRC is also fully mapping the possible costs and benefits for the environment and society as a whole.
Given the intersections with many elements of product and waste policy, JRC collaborates intensively with Commission departments for Environment (DG ENV), Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), Health and Food safety (DG SANTE), Research and Innovation, Secretariat General and others.
