EU bungled plastic waste tax, auditors say

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🗞️ Driving the news: The European Court of Auditors has criticized the EU’s plastic waste tax, citing unreliable data and potential links to increased illegal dumping
• Introduced in 2021, the tax charges member states €0.80 per kilogram of unrecycled plastic waste, but inconsistent data reporting has undermined its effectiveness
• Only five EU countries have fully implemented the necessary legislation, while 22 face legal challenges

🔭 The context: The plastic waste tax was designed to encourage recycling and reduce landfill waste, with revenue helping fund the EU’s €150 billion annual budget
• However, discrepancies in waste measurement and recycling rates have caused a shortfall in projected revenue
• Auditors also warn that recycling targets could be fueling criminal activities, such as fraudulent recycling claims

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Plastic pollution is a significant environmental issue, and the EU’s plastic tax aims to reduce waste
• However, inconsistencies and inadequate controls may undermine efforts to mitigate plastic waste, delaying progress toward sustainability goals

⏭️ What's next: The European Commission aims to introduce a new methodology by 2026 to improve data accuracy
• In the meantime, better monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure compliance and curb illegal dumping

💬 One quote: “There are several [cases] of plastic that was declared as recycled and found in landfill or incinerated,” said Jose Parente, the auditor who led the review

📈 One stat: In 2021, the EU’s plastic waste tax generated €5.9 billion, falling short of estimates by €1.1 billion

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