To Be or Not To Be Recyclable? An Examination of the Proposal for an EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste Available to Purchase

By 1995 the EC hopes to have in force a new directive to replace directive 85/339 on containers of liquids for human consumption. Hopefully, this new directive will be more successful than its predecessor. By the directive the EC hopes to increase protection of the environment by establishing a return system for empty containers. It covers waste management by: (1) prevention, i.e. reduction of quantity or harmfulness of waste; (2) recovery, especially recycling; and (3)disposal, as a last resort. Discusses the impact of the directive on companies involved and how much can realistically be recycled; and that products cannot be recycled indefinitely. Also discusses the marking of packaging to indicate that it is reusable, recoverable, and its composition; and considers the value of this information to the consumer and those involved with disposal and waste management.