Surveillance of Packaging Waste in Europe

The appropriate European Union authorities are becoming more vigilant in their desire to increase and improve surveillance regarding the European Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC) within the EU member states. Each Member State has passed laws that require manufacturers, importers and distributors to be responsible for their packaging waste in Europe, with strict EU compliance requirements for all member states to meet a continued reduction in EU packaging waste and waste materials.

The result of the enactment of these laws has been that within each member state, a variety of methods have been created - either through legislation or on a voluntary basis - to reduce waste. The largest producers of waste usually develop a packaging waste recycling plan for their specific products (glass bottles, cans, etc.) and are themselves personally responsible for the waste they generate. In the case of smaller manufacturers, importers and distributors, the increasingly popular Green Dot program that originated in Germany is being utilized.

The Green Dot program is expanding throughout Europe. This program consists of individual, national non-profit organizations who collect fees from producers of waste - the importer, distributor or manufacturer - based on the amount of packaging either being produced within the country or imported into the country.

These collected fees are then turned around to create recycling centers and recycling programs within communities, and are used for public advocacy and awareness of the practical, environmental and legal requirements to reduce waste. Meeting the packaging waste regulations in Europe is mandatory for shippers overseas. Green Dot is an easy way to ensure compliance with those European packaging regulations.

To participate in the Green Dot program, one registers with the appropriate Green Dot authority within each EU member state. This registration then provides for the legal use of the Green Dot symbol on your packaging only in the countries in which you are registered. Filings, fee payments, etc. are completed and submitted based on a variety of criteria including the weight of your packaging waste, volume shipped into Europe and other factors.

Read more about the European packaging regulations.