As part of the legislative revision of the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, the European Parliament have announced the adoption of new rules addressing food and textile waste across the EU.

Producers that make textiles available on the EU market will be required to cover the costs of collection, sorting and recycling of their products. This will be enforced through new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Textiles schemes – similar to those already in place in the UK and EU for packaging, batteries and electronics.

Products covered will include clothing and accessories, hats, footwear, blankets, bed and kitchen linen, and curtains.

Each EU member state will need to set up and enforce an EPR scheme within 30 months of the directive’s entry into force, with microenterprises being granted an additional 12 months to comply.

European Parliament Press Release: Parliament adopts new EU rules to reduce textile and food waste