Waste production should be stabilized by 2012, said the Environment Committee in a second reading report, adopted on Arpil 9th 2008, on a proposal to revise the EU framework directive on waste. For MEPs, a crucial aim is to reduce the amount of landfill and incineration, both of which cause pollution. The committee voted to reinstate most of Parliament's first reading amendments that were not taken up by the Council, and reiterated Parliament's call for re-use and recycling targets.

Over 1.8 billion tonnes of waste are generated each year in Europe. This amount is growing faster than GDP and less than a third of it is recycled.  Some Member States landfill 90% of their municipal waste, others only 10%. In September 2005, the European Commission proposed an overhaul of the 1975 directive, largely to lay down rules on recycling and to require Member States to draw up binding national programmes for cutting waste production.

Targets for stabilisation, re-use and recycling.

In the second reading report by Caroline Jackson (EPP-ED, UK), adopted with 42 in favour, none against and 14 abstentions, MEPs call for total waste production to be stabilized by 2012, compared to the 2009 position. Member States are asked to establish waste prevention programmes not later than five years after the revised directive's entry into force and to determine appropriate specific targets to achieve the 2012 target and further significant reductions in waste generation by 2020.
 
MEPs also call for targets for reuse and recycling. By 2020, re-use and recycling rates should be increased to a minimum of 50% by weight for household waste and a minimum of 70% by weight for construction and demolition waste and manufacturing and industrial waste. Member States with less than 5% recycling in either category or no official figures would be given an additional 5 years to reach the targets.

By 2015 the Member States would have to set up separate waste collection schemes for at least the following:

• Paper.
• Metal.
• Plastic.
• Glass.
• Textiles.
• Other biodegradable wastes.
• Oils and hazardous wastes.