The EU has set ambitious targets to improve municipal waste management. EU Member States need effective strategies and policy instruments to achieve these targets.

This briefing provides an overview of some of the main instruments used across the EU and the performance of Member States so far.

Economic instruments can be useful policy tools for waste prevention and sustainable waste management. This is because they can make preferred management options, such as recycling, cheaper than or at least cost-competitive with their alternatives.

Like economic instruments, well-designed separate collection systems for municipal waste are a key enabler of high recycling rates and the collection of recyclables of adequate quality.

Europe aims to become a circular economy. To encourage this, the EU has set targets for the 27 Member States to increase recycling and reduce landfilling. Specifically, by 2025, 55% of municipal waste and 65% of packaging waste must be prepared for re-use or recycled.

This briefing assesses Member States’ prospects of meeting these targets and its findings constitute the basis of the European Commission’s 2023 early warning report.

The Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam (MRA) aims to achieve 70% circular textiles by 2030. This report provides a clear vision and a plan on how to successfully transition to a regenerative and circular textile system.

This research is provided by the Circular Innovation Collective (CIC), a squad of three impact-driven organisations: Metabolic, Impact Hub Amsterdam and Bankers without Boundaries. It is supported by the Municipality of Amsterdam, DOEN, and Goldschmeding.