Strict EU Action Against 12 Member States for Missing Waste Recycling Targets: Hungary Also Affected

As part of its latest infringement procedure package, the European Commission has called on 12 EU Member States to meet waste recycling and packaging targets. Based on the latest reported data, Hungary has fallen short of legally binding EU standards on multiple fronts, receiving a reasoned opinion from Brussels.

Firm Action for the Single Market and the Circular Economy

In its recent infringement package, the European Commission launched or advanced procedures against a total of 12 Member States for failing to meet established waste management targets. This decision is an integral part of the Commission’s enforcement efforts aimed at removing barriers in the single market across 11 priority areas, as outlined in the Commission’s communication titled “A simpler, clearer and better enforced EU law”.

The Commission sent letters of formal notice to Germany, Greece, and Cyprus. Meanwhile, following previous warnings, it escalated the procedure by sending reasoned opinions to Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Romania.

Missed Municipal Waste Recycling Targets

The Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851) sets legally binding targets for Member States. Under these provisions, Member States should have reached a 50% target for the preparation for reuse and recycling of municipal waste—specifically paper, metal, plastic, and glass—by the year 2020.

According to the official assessment, the 12 countries involved—including Hungary—failed to meet this 50% threshold set for 2020.

Highlight: Hungary’s Situation and Quantitative Data on Packaging Waste

In the case of Hungary, procedure INFR(2024)2134 addresses not only municipal waste but also the violation of the Directive on packaging and packaging waste (Directive 94/62/EC as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/852).

The directive originally stipulated a deadline of December 31, 2008, by which 55–80% of all packaging waste placed on the European market had to be recycled. The legislation defined specific, distinct recycling targets for different materials:

• Glass: 60%

• Paper and cardboard: 60%

• Metals: 50%

• Plastics: 22.5%

• Wood: 15%

The Commission found that seven Member States also failed to meet the packaging targets set for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Based on the latest available quantitative data and official reports, Hungary failed to meet the recycling targets for all packaging, as well as specifically for glass (60%). (Greece and Romania are in a similar situation, having also fallen short of the standard for both overall packaging and glass).

Economic and Environmental Consequences of the Shortfall

The Commission’s report emphasizes that achieving the required waste recycling targets is essential to promote the single market for secondary raw materials and to enhance the circular nature of the European economy. Without meeting the set figures, sustainable raw material management cannot be ensured, which in the long run hinders the European Union from successfully reducing its dependence on raw materials from third countries. Member States, including Hungary, must respond to the Commission’s concerns within a designated timeframe and take the necessary steps to achieve compliance.

References and Official Sources:

• Original European Commission Press Release (Press Corner): https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_26_1376 (English equivalent link)

• Official Document of the Decisions (PDF): https://europa.eu/newsroom/ecpc-failover/pdf/inf-26-1376_en.pdf