The European Comission adopted proposals to turn Europe into a more circular economy by promoting recycling, repairing and re-using.

By 2030 European Member states should recycle 70% of their municipal and 80% of their packaging waste.

It is also planned to ban burrying recyclable waste in landfills by 2025. 

These changes would not only create 580,000 new jobs and make Europe more competitive, but would also reduce the demand for scacre resources, lower the environmental impact and lessen the greenhous gas emission.

"We are living with linear economic systems inherited from the 19th Century in the 21st Century world of emerging economies, millions of new middle class consumers, and inter-connected markets. If we want to compete we have to get the most out of our resources, and that means recycling them back into productive use, not burying them in landfills as waste. Moving to a circular economy is not only possible, it is profitable, but that does not mean it will happen without the right policies. The 2030 targets that we propose are about taking action today to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and exploiting the business and job opportunities it offers", explained Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik.

The proposals that are part of the resource efficiency agenda under the Europe 2020 Strategy on growth, will now pass to the Council and the Parliament. 

"Research and innovation are the keys to success for the Circular Economy, which is why we are proposing a joined-up approach today. Alongside a supportive regulatory framework, our new Horizon 2020 programme will contribute the know-how necessary to shape a resource-efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy in the EU", said Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.