ENVI draft report on resource-efficient Europe released

On 16 February 2012, MEP Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy’s (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, the Netherlands) draft report on a resource-efficient Europe was released. In his report, MEP Gerbrandy proposed the creation of Joint Task Forces, with the aim of developing European Resource Efficiency Action Plans. In addition, he calls for the creation of end-of-waste criteria as well as reduced VAT rates for secondary materials. He also proposes to integrate resource efficiency indicators into all its impact assessments. The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) of the European Parliament is scheduled to vote on this report on 25 April 2012, with the vote in Plenary expected on 21 May 2012.

In an interview with Euractiv, MEP Gerbrandy also hinted at the creation of a ‘Schengen Area for Waste’ with the aim of making it “much easier to get your old light bulbs to one or two places in Europe and to recycle everything that is in these light bulbs”.

More information:

Draft Report

Euractiv Interview