Quality of data on waste

2.3.2016

Question for written answer E-001923-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Axel Voss (PPE)

The Commission's proposals on the circular economy package (CEP) foresee an increase in recycling rates for packaging, together with the introduction of ‘preparation for reuse’. If these targets are to be achieved efficiently more transparency is needed with regard to how data relevant to the compilation of recovery rates is derived and communicated.

Harmonising data collection and reporting would improve the comparability of national recovery systems and allow best practices to be defined.

The current system for the collection of data on packaging consumption and recovery operated by Eurostat is opaque and is applied differently by the Member States. There are currently no opportunities, organisational processes or capacities for ensuring that the Member States act more efficiently in this matter.

What concrete steps are currently being taken or are planned in order to optimise the systems for deriving reliable data on packaging consumption and recovery, to encourage the Member States to allocate adequate human resources to this area and to sanction them for failure to comply with data quality requirements?

Is the Commission developing specific solutions to this issue in the context of the CEP?

If not, why not?