PLASTICS PROCESSING
European converters hope EU investment plan will stimulate their business / EuPC urges Brussels to revive its circular economy proposal
European Plastics Converters(EuPC, Brussels / Belgium; (www.plasticsconverters.eu), the trade organisation for the European plastics processing sector, is optimistic that the European Commission’s new EUR 315 bn Investment Plan for Europe (EFSI) – also known as the Juncker plan, after new Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker – will result in new projects for its member companies.
As part of the plan designed to promote job creation and growth across the EU 28 over a three-year period up to 2017, a European Investment Project Pipeline is being set up to improve investors' knowledge of existing and future projects. In general, the Commission’s proposal is designed to benefit small and medium-sized companies, which make up the bulk of EuPC members.
Based on proposals expected to be realized over the next three years, EuPC also hopes that as a trickle-down measure, plastics recyclers will have the opportunity to work toward the goal of increasing recycling capacities across the EU. It also sees converters as potentially profiting from infrastructure projects such as building and demolition waste schemes but also emission reduction and smart transport measures.
The legislative proposal to establish the funding is expected to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council in the coming weeks. To help kick-start projects, a European Investment Advisory Hub will be established to help with project identification, preparation and development across member states.
Alexandre Dangis, managing director of EuPC, said the association is “delighted” that the new EU Commission has understood the need to further stimulate growth in the EU. “Developing more sorting and plastic recycling infrastructures is an important part of this,” he stressed. Dangis added that converters hope the investment package will be complemented by the revival of an earlier proposed Circular Economy package, which includes plans to increase recycling levels and tighten rules on incineration and landfill.
Implementation of the recycling package that called for the EU to recycle 70% of municipal waste and 80% of packaging waste by 2030 while banning landfill of recyclable waste by 2025 were dropped by the Commission in late 2014; however, the Brussels authority pledged that the scheme would be replaced with “more ambitious” legislation during 2015 – see Plasteurope.com of 19.12.2014.
As part of the plan designed to promote job creation and growth across the EU 28 over a three-year period up to 2017, a European Investment Project Pipeline is being set up to improve investors' knowledge of existing and future projects. In general, the Commission’s proposal is designed to benefit small and medium-sized companies, which make up the bulk of EuPC members.
Based on proposals expected to be realized over the next three years, EuPC also hopes that as a trickle-down measure, plastics recyclers will have the opportunity to work toward the goal of increasing recycling capacities across the EU. It also sees converters as potentially profiting from infrastructure projects such as building and demolition waste schemes but also emission reduction and smart transport measures.
The legislative proposal to establish the funding is expected to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council in the coming weeks. To help kick-start projects, a European Investment Advisory Hub will be established to help with project identification, preparation and development across member states.
Alexandre Dangis, managing director of EuPC, said the association is “delighted” that the new EU Commission has understood the need to further stimulate growth in the EU. “Developing more sorting and plastic recycling infrastructures is an important part of this,” he stressed. Dangis added that converters hope the investment package will be complemented by the revival of an earlier proposed Circular Economy package, which includes plans to increase recycling levels and tighten rules on incineration and landfill.
Implementation of the recycling package that called for the EU to recycle 70% of municipal waste and 80% of packaging waste by 2030 while banning landfill of recyclable waste by 2025 were dropped by the Commission in late 2014; however, the Brussels authority pledged that the scheme would be replaced with “more ambitious” legislation during 2015 – see Plasteurope.com of 19.12.2014.
27.01.2015 Plasteurope.com [230336-0]
Published on 27.01.2015
German version of this article...