Editorial

EU waste regulations: What do they mean and how to comply

Starting in 2025, EU waste regulations* will enforce stricter waste sorting and recycling requirements across member states to reduce environmental impact. This article highlights the challenges of the regulations and key solutions Smicon can offer.

Key changes in waste management

Mandatory waste reduction & Recycling targets
- Businesses must reduce excessive packaging and improve recyclability. The new regulations sets targets for defined quantities of recycled content.
- By 2035, no more than 10% of municipal waste should be landfilled, as required by the EU Landfill Directive.
Stricter organic waste management
- Food-related packaging must comply with new compostability requirements.
- The disposal and sorting of organic waste will be subject to more stringent regulations for businesses as well as municipalities (organic waste makes up 37% of municipal waste).
Increased responsibilities
- Companies must comply with packaging minimization rules by 2030.
- Extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations will require businesses to take greater accountability for waste management and promote re-use.

Despite these goals, many EU Member States risk falling short due to inadequate separate collection and treatment capacity.

Municipal waste management targets

Improving the management of municipal waste has been a long-standing objective of EU waste policy, with the aim of harvesting useful resources from waste. The EU Waste Framework Directive requires that EU Member States increase the share of municipal waste prepared for reuse or recycled to 55% of all municipal waste generated by 2025 and 60% by 2030. Moreover, by 2035, no more than 10% of all municipal waste should be landfilled, as required by the EU Landfill Directive.

Bio-waste forms around 37% of municipal waste in the EU. A recent report emphasized that reaching the EU’s 65% recycling target for municipal waste by 2035 would necessitate capturing and treating an extra 40 million tonnes of bio-waste each year. Composting and anaerobic digestion will form an essential part of this process. The report by Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) reveals that only 26% of the theoretical food waste potential is currently captured through separate collection, highlighting a significant untapped potential. As the EU moves toward stricter regulations, improving organic waste management will be critical for achieving circular economy goals.

Ten Member States are at risk of missing both the municipal waste (55%) and the total packaging waste (65%) recycling targets in 2025. Separate collection of organic waste is therefore key in helping Member States reach their recycling target for municipal waste (EEA, 2023). In general, it was found that Member States at risk of not meeting their recycling target had neither separate collection in place nor available treatment capacity.

Implications for the recycling industry

To comply with the regulations, businesses and municipalities must invest in improved waste sorting and processing technologies. The residual waste bin (black bin) can no longer include food waste, plastics, metals, paper, glass, textiles, or electronic and construction waste, increasing the need for efficient separation systems. Without proper infrastructure, many states will struggle to meet recycling targets, further emphasizing the urgency of enhanced waste management solutions.

How Smicon supports

With the increased focus on waste separation and recycling, companies involved in food waste processing need efficient solutions. Smicon’s expertise in food waste depackaging and separation technology positions it as a key partner for adapting to the EU standards. Here’s how:

Organic waste treatment
Smicon’s machinery recovers up to 99% of organic material for reuse as biogas, animal feed or compost. By optimizing separation of food waste from its packaging and purifying the output, Smicon helps stimulate re-use and meet recycling targets efficiently.
Improved packaging recycling
Businesses will need improved recycling solutions for plastic, metal, and paper packaging. Smicon’s SMIMO depackager can process up to 30 tons per hour, making it a scalable solution for waste management facilities. Our machinery ensures minimal packaging/heavy particle contamination and clean material streams. Additional aftertreatment machinery, such as our windshifter, cyclone, and screw press, further improve waste purity, reducing disposal costs.
Support for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Smicon’s low-maintenance technology enhances operational efficiency, reduces costs, and accelerates Return on Investment, helping businesses adapt to stricter regulations while maintaining profitability.

As Member States across Europe prepare, Smicon remains committed to providing tailored solutions that enhance waste processing efficiency and support the transition to a more sustainable future.

The EU’s regulations push for better waste sorting and higher recycling rates. By improving waste management, we contribute to a more sustainable, circular economy where valuable resources are recovered and reused instead of ending up in landfills.

Want to ensure compliance? Contact us today to talk about how Smicon can support you!

*Sources:
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 Waste framework directive (EUR-LEX, jan 2025)
EU Member States not on track to meet recycling targets (European Environment Agency, jun 2023)
Bio-waste generation in the EU (Zero Waste Europe, nov 2024)