The European Recovered Paper Council is urging European citizens to continue sorting and recycling paper:

Brussels - Paper recycling is a positive action for the climate and fosters sustainable growth and jobs. “Every piece of paper in your recycling bin counts for a better environment and society”, said Phil Mogel, Chairman of the European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC), representing 14 sectors along the paper value chain. “Industry reiterates its commitment to voluntary recycling targets and confirms a sustained demand for good quality recovered paper despite difficult economic conditions,” continued Mr. Mogel. “Consumers can be assured that their efforts in sorting continue to serve a real purpose.”

The European Recovered Paper Council challenges those local authorities that have not yet made decisions on separate collection of paper to do so in advance of the 2015 target set in the new Waste Directive. Local authorities are needed to facilitate between people’s will to recycle their papers and industry’s demand for that material in reprocessing it into new paper products. One of the key benefits of paper recycling is that there are carbon savings available from simply diverting paper products from alternative disposal routes such as landfill and incineration.

If every citizen in the EU became as good in recycling their paper as the current best, another 10 million tonnes of paper would be recycled, raising the figure to a total of over 70 million tonnes of paper being recycled every year. This increase would mean an opportunity for more jobs along the sectors in the value chain as well as an additional CO2 saving of up to 14 million tonnes.

The ERPC reiterates the vital importance of reducing unjustified administrative barriers for paper recycling and the urgent need to accelerate work on the end-of-waste criteria as provided in the revised waste directive.

Although the ERPC acknowledges the global economic downturn and its inevitable effects on the recycling industry, it maintains a positive outlook for the development of paper recycling.

In 2007, paper was recycled at the rate of 64,5% in Europe, and the industry will keep putting all their efforts into meeting the voluntary target of 66% by the end of 2010. Less than 15% of the paper collected in Europe was exported to other countries for recycling in 2007.

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