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News

EU end-of-waste criteria proposed for glass

7 Feb 2012

The EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has recommended criteria for deciding when glass collected for recycling should stop being classed as waste. The draft end-of-waste criteria will be considered by a regulatory committee in May.

News

Research plan for nuclear waste issued

6 Feb 2012

An EU consortium on the geological disposal of radioactive waste has issued a research plan to deliver scientific and technological information on the construction of permanent underground sites. A consultation on the plan runs until next week.

News

Priority issues identified for waste prevention

1 Feb 2012

The EU should focus its waste prevention efforts on hazardous, construction and demolition waste, and food, according to recommendations from consultancy Bio Intelligence Service published in a report for the European Commission this week.

News

Funding to improve water innovation under discussion

1 Feb 2012

The European Commission hopes to agree "substantial" funding for a proposed European innovation partnership (EIP) on water management in the next couple of weeks and to launch the initiative in April, officials said on Wednesday.

News

Greece and Cyprus warned over landfill rules

26 Jan 2012

The European Commission is sending Greece and Cyprus final warnings over their failure to comply with EU landfill rules. Environment-related infringement proceedings were also announced against six other member states on Thursday.

Analysis

Sorting out the plastic bag policy chaos

5 Jul 2011

Member states have adopted a flurry of measures to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags, some of them raising legal issues. EU action is being considered but none of the options put forward, including a ban, seem to get unanimous support.