1. Extended Producer Responsibility –
EU guidance
OECD Global forum
17-19 June 2014,Tokyo
Michel SPONAR,
European Commission, DG Environment

2. Outline
1. Background
• Why EPR?
• EPR – main lessons
2. New study on EU EPR's
 Approach, objectives
 Main results
3. Key principles for guidance
4. Conclusions – next steps

3. Additional study on EPR
Objective
• Identify 'golden rules' and/or minimum requirements for
sound EPR schemes
Approach
• Comparison of the performances of existing EPR's
• For 6 waste streams in depth analysis of 6 case studies
• Identification of the best practices
• Combination of desk research, interviews and stakeholder
consultations
Timing
• Study to be published on July 2th 2014

4. 4
Batteries ELV Packaging WEEE
Graphic
Paper
Oils
Austria Sweden Germany Ireland Finland Belgium
Switzerland Netherlands Belgium
United
Kingdom
France Finland
Belgium Germany Netherlands Finland Netherlands Germany
Denmark
Slovak
Republic
Austria Latvia Sweden Spain
Netherlands Austria
Czech
Republic
France Italy
France Finland France Denmark Portugal
United
Kingdom
Sweden

5. General findings
• Around 200 EPR schemes operational in the EU
• Packaging, WEEE, ELV's and tyres and batteries dominant
• But also: paper, oil, medicine, textile, furniture, specific
hazardous waste, agriculture foil, etc.
• Confirmation of the variety (cost efficiency, type of
organisation, responsibility, control etc.)
• Lack of comparability/transparence
• No one singe model

7. Packaging – fees paid/recycling rates

8. Figure 1: Cost effectiveness of EPR schemes on packaging (2010 or 2011)
Note: The x-axis starts at 50%.

9. Key principles
Objective: Improve cost effectiveness/acceptability of EPR
schemes by a combination of :
 Legislation
 Recommendations/guidance
 At European/ OECD, National/Regional and local levels
Supporting measures are essential: Landfill/Incineration
taxes/bans, pay as you thrown systems,
incentives/penalties for municipalities

10. Clear objectives
• Define EPR and clarify its objectives
• High environmental standards
• Take back obligation
• Not to be mixed with EcoDesign Directive (condition to
place a product on the market)
• What if profitable chain? Added value compared to
administrative burden
• Definition of targets
• Aligned with the waste hierarchy
• Recycling/reuse - at least EU targets
• Prevention?

11. Permanent dialogue
• A permanent dialogue between all involved actors
producers - retailers - citizens – waste collectors –
municipalities/private operators – sorters – recyclers –
authorities in charge of controlling the system
• Clear definition of the responsibilities – who is responsible
for what?

12. Ensure transparency / control
Combination of public and auto control based on risk analysis
• Clear verified and accessible reporting
• Audits by third parties
• Maximum level for overall costs, rules for reserves
• Enough public resources
• Efficient actions against free riders (average % maximum)
• Focus on statistics and quality/reliability
• Specific measures for small producers/importers
• Export of waste

13. Fair competition
• Clear procedures to designate operators (open
tenders/standard cost reimbursement in the case of
municipalities)
• Non-discrimination for producer/importers
• Specific rules for specific waste streams/products
• One or several collective schemes?
• Profit/non profit?
• Who should own the collective schemes?

14. True and full costs
• True cost principle - fees have to be linked to exact
costs/recyclability of the products
• Full cost principle
• Collection, sorting minus revenues from sales of
materials
• Safety nets – control of costs
• Full coverage of the territory by an high density
collection network (adapted to habitat)
• Information
• Littering? Surveillance?

15. Conclusions – next steps
Publication of the study (early July)
Adoption by the Commission of the package on 'circular
economy' including revised targets and minimum EPR
requirements (2014)
Co decision procedure in 2014/2015 (European Council and
Parliament)
Development of guidance document on EPR

16. Thank you for your attention !
Additional sources of information:
DG ENV “waste” website:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment//waste/index.htm
Study on Economic Instruments:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/use.htm
Additional study on EPR: http://epr.eu-smr.eu/
Target review: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/target_review.htm