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Earth News
MEPs approve law to reduce growing stream of packaging waste
The European Parliament has adopted new binding targets for reuse, collection and recycling of packaging, and outright bans on a range of disposable plastic wrappers, miniature bottles and bags deemed unnecessary, but NGOs have raised another 'greenwashing' alarm.
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Governments agree packaging waste law despite trade concerns
Belgium, current holder of the rotating EU Council presidency, has forged agreement between governments over new rules to tackle the growing problem of discarded packaging materials, overcoming the European Commission's concerns over trade diplomacy.
Earth News
Exclusive: Trade officials confident of stalling packaging waste law
A landmark environment law designed to tackle the huge and growing volume of packaging waste discarded in Europe, already nearly 190m tonnes a year per person, risks being postponed until after EU elections amid a political impasse over its potential implications for trade and diplomacy.
Earth News
Burger wrappers survive clampdown on packaging waste
While lawmakers have balked at a total ban on disposable wrappers and cartons in fast-food restaurants, a range of familiar litter should soon be consigned to the dustbin of history under an agreement they hope will reverse the surging generation of packaging waste across the EU.
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MEPs wave through raft of Green Deal legislation as elections loom
The European Parliament's environment committee has approved provisional deals with governments on half a dozen key pieces of environmental law, as lawmakers hurry to complete as much Green Deal legislation as possible before EU elections.
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Brewers froth over winemakers’ exemption from anti-waste rules
As the EU debates rules to limit packaging waste, beer producers argue they are being unfairly discriminated against with exemptions for winemakers from reuse targets and deposit-return schemes, but one of Europe’s wine industry association chiefs says brewers should “mind their own business”.
Earth News
Belgium has just weeks to close key environment policy files
As Belgium takes over the EU Council presidency, it has just eight weeks to reach a deal with the European Parliament on a hotly debated law designed to reverse rapid growth in packaging waste, as well limits on CO2 emissions from lorries and rules on carbon removal certification.
Earth News
Governments agree response to surge in packaging waste
Environment ministers secured several concessions before agreeing a joint position on legislation designed to reduce the amount of packaging material discarded annually, prompting the Netherlands' Vivianne Heijnen to warn against any further “watering down".
