The EU's current circular economy policy originally focused on improving the recycling rate of different products and substances. It is expected that after the strategy is revised this year, chemical substance-related aspects will be included in policy development goals.
This strategy will also revise six other waste disposal directives, including packaging, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and waste electrical and electronic equipment. , WEEE).
Kestutis Sadauskas, Green Economy Director of the European Commission's Environment Agency, said that the strategy revision will be a good opportunity for us to strengthen the management of chemical substances and find out how to extract harmful chemicals from substances and products that are recycled or reused under the circular economy strategy. . The quality of recycled materials will determine the survival of the circular economy market, and the European Commission hopes to assist recycling companies in creating a quality market.
Since the types and states of recycled products and substances vary greatly, and the contents and types of harmful chemicals are diverse, Sadauskas recommends starting with the control of hazardous chemicals by starting with recycled products that are highly toxic, contain a lot of hazardous substances, and are recycled in large quantities. management, and then gradually achieve the goal of eliminating harmful chemical substances.
Members of the European Parliament also expressed opposition to this amendment. Christel Schaldemose, a member of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, pointed out that the circular economy strategy is not the answer to all problems in the EU, and strengthening the management of chemical substances should be a priority for specific industries and products.
The chairman of the consumer committee of the Austrian Standardization Association said that in order to be able to understand the chemical substances in recycled items, representatives should have chemical substance information before the product leaves the factory. Instead of implementing chemical substance control at the recycling end, it is better to strengthen the product before leaving the factory. Hazardous Substances Management.
Source:Chemical Watch (2015-03-04) (PIDC compiled
