Our Publications

This joint statement by 42 organisations calls on EU policymakers to ensure chemical transparency and traceability in products as part of the transition to a clean and circular economy. It highlights the risks of hazardous substances to recycling, water services, public health, and competitiveness, urging strong implementation of existing strategies and regulations.

This paper examines the financing of micropollutant removal under the EU’s recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), which introduces an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. Since pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are identified as major sources of micropollutants in urban wastewater, their producers will be required to cover at least 80% of the associated treatment costs. The paper highlights that this approach reflects the polluter-pays principle, helps protect water affordability for citizens, and ensures that both EU and non-EU producers contribute equally to the cost burden.

The current geopolitical situation and the objective to transition to a climate-neutral society by 2050, make it urgent to reuse the renewable and continuous supply of resources and energy which pass through our waste water systems. Waste water contains many valuable resources, most notably nutrients for fertilisers (nitrogen and phosphorus), water and energy. These valuable resources can be recovered and reused, making a significant contribution to the circular economy.