Austrian experts from the EU4Environment Water and Data programme are in Tbilisi this week (22 January 2024) to advise the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). With Georgia aiming for EU accession, focus areas include waste streams like packaging and end-of-life vehicles. The team is looking at the implementation of EPR regulations, drawing on successful EU practices. EPR, a key tool in EU member States to increase recycling rates and promote a circular economy, is a challenge for aspiring EU members such as Georgia. This cooperation underlines the importance of sharing experiences for effective EPR legislation and practices.
Three days of Capacity-building on Extended Producer Responsibility in Waste Management
In the frame of the EU4Environment Water and Data programme, Austrian experts are advising the Waste Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in Georgia on the implementation of the already adopted Extended Producer Responsibility regulations on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Batteries, Waste Oils and Tires.
This week in Tbilisi, the discussions focus in particular on those waste streams for which Extended Producer Responsibility regulations are still under development:
- Packaging – nationwide system in Georgia, regulatory and technical requirements, basic collection infrastructure in municipalities, role of the Coordination Office for Packaging (Austrian experience and options for Georgia)
- End of Live Vehicles (ELVs) – financial and economic aspects of EPR introduction; responsibilities of the different authorities regarding the collection of abandoned ELVs
- Waste information system on packaging and other waste – update on developments and open issues, including circular economy indicators
- European Commission reporting decisions on waste streams – logic, structure and implementation, interlinkage with Waste Statistics Regulation
- Methodology for calculation of annual amounts of packaging and packaging waste, as basis for recycling targets; circular economy indicators
A particular focus will be on the requirement for nationwide coverage of EPR systems, following the successful Austrian practice, which has not yet been fully adopted by Georgia.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
In the European Union countries, Extended Producer Responsibility has been introduced in the management of specific waste streams to ensure higher collection and recycling rates in line with the requirements of the Waste Framework Directive and to develop a more circular economy.
Extended Producer Responsibility is also a tool to support the overall transition to a more sustainable and circular economic model.
For new EU candidate countries, the development of adequate legislation and effective implementation rules and procedures for Extended Producer Responsibility is a major challenge that requires international support and the sharing of successful experiences from EU countries.
Presentations
- Introduction to the EPR for packaging in Austria
- Austrian experience - The role of different authorities with a focus on the packaging coordination office
- ELV - technical and financial aspects