The European Union is recognising state-owned Producers Responsibility Organisation (PROs) in an increasing number of legislative initiatives. While they are a reality in Hungary and Croatia, some other Member States are in the process of repealing the existing PROs system to adopt a state-run one.
Fees charged by state-owned PROs are almost always a form of taxation. The money collected from producers becomes another source of revenue for state budgets, without any guarantee of being used for the purpose of waste management. Additionally, data show that countries already recognising state-owned PROs are worsening their recycling performances, and we fear that this negative trend could widespread around the EU.
Read the full joint statement signed by TIE and over 50 other organisations here.
