WRITTEN QUESTION E-2557/99 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Waste recycling.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/21 full, for its members), sets standards on toilets which include a minimum of one toilet per passenger coach, or two in the case of coaches with more than 40 seats, each toilet to be equipped with a washbasin, a minimum room temperature of 20 °, the installation to follow ergonomic and aesthetic principles, a minimum size of 1,20 to 0,90 m2, a minimum distance of 500 mm between the toilet seat and the wall, and other specifications regarding the technical installations (hot water, availability of water and electricity). Given that all main railway undertakings are members of UIC, and not having heard of any difficulties in respect of the availability of toilets, the Commission does not see the need for legally binding minimum standards on a European level. (2000/C 330 E/021) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2557/99 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission (11 January 2000) Subject: Waste recycling Would the Commission please give the latest available figures for the percentage of household waste recycled in each of the Member States? (2000/C 330 E/022) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2558/99 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission (11 January 2000) Subject: Waste recycling incentives Would the Commission please outline the principal causes of the substantial differences which exist in the recycling of household waste, notably the existence (or otherwise) of public policy measures to encourage such recycling, and describe which are the most effective public incentives for recycling? Joint answer to Written Questions E-2557/99 and E-2558/99 given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (17 February 2000) There are many factors that influence the recycling of household waste, the most important being the efficiency of the collection system, technological know-how and the existence of a market for recyclables or recycled products. To enhance the recycling of household waste various regulatory instruments have been enacted in the Community, such as Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste (1), which sets targets for the recycling of packaging waste, and Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfilling of waste (2), which sets targets for the reduction of the landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste. In addition, the recycling of household waste can be encouraged by other instruments, such as market based instruments, quality standards for recycled products, integration of environmental aspects into public procurement procedures and the improvement of the image of recycled products