The system in Spain

Recycling glass packaging waste is mandatory in all EU Member States, with the aim of protecting the environment and making a more rational use of resources.

 

Read on to learn about all the details.

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Let's start from the beginning
HOW DID RECYCLING BECOME MANDATORY?

Since 1997, the Spanish Packaging and Packaging Waste Act 11/1997, requires companies that place a packaged product on the market for the first time to deploy every means possible to reduce the environmental impact of its waste. That is, to manage the recycling of single-use packaging.

 

Our national regulation is transposed from European Directive 94/64/EC on Packaging and Packaging waste and it is a revolutionary milestone: Companies cannot just sell their product, they are made responsible for the environmental impact and contamination caused by the waste they generate! This concept is known as the Extended Producer Responsibility.

 

Ecovidrio arrives at the scene as a result of the requirement of companies fulfilling this responsibility. With this mandate, we began operating all around Spain in 1998.
 

Show the legislation

Would you like to know more about the regulations governing this activity?
Directive (EU) 2018/850 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste
Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste
Directive (EU) 2018/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste
Waste and Contaminated Land Act 7/2022 of 8 April
Real Decreto 1055/2022, de 27 de diciembre, de envases y residuos de envases
The actors
in this system
WHAT SHOULD EACH OF THEM DO?

For the system to work, we must collaborate hand-in-hand with the packaging companies, Public Administrations, horeca sector, and citizens. In this sense, each actor has an important role to play.

 

Read on and discover it!

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Ecovidrio's functions

Ecovidrio is a Collective System of Extended Producer Responsability (SCRAP) and non-profit entity. It is responsible for the following:

 

  • Mobilising society as a whole by means of awareness campaigns, so they recycle their glass packaging.

 

  • Placing bins and managing the collection of glass packaging waste, based on two different management systems that we offer to local authorities for collecting glass packaging. One option is the town hall carries out the collection and we finance the total cost. The other is that we directly carry out the tasks required to guarantee the selective collection by using bins.

 

  • Launching specific plans, taking responsibility for the entire recycling chain.

 

  • Ensuring that the recycling targets set by the European Union are met.
  • Obtaining funding to manage the recycling of glass packagings that companies place on the market via the Green Dot fee and the sale of waste.

See our funding >

 

  • Providing audited and transparent information on glass packaging collection data to the different competent public administrations and to society as a whole.

See recycling data >

 

  • Justifying the efficiency and effectiveness of this management to companies that have delegated in us the legal obligation to take responsibility for the glass packaging waste.


If you would like to know more about our activity, click here.

Functions of packaging companies

 

  • Complying with their legal obligations associated with the generation of waste they place on the market, via Ecovidrio. You have all the information here.

 

  • Financing the recycling system for glass packaging waste via the Green Dot fee.

Find out more >

 

  • Controlling and certifying Ecovidrio's adequate management under criteria of effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and transparency.

 

  • Promoting the glass packaging's sustainability in terms of its design and production.


     

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Functions of the Public Administrations

European Union

It establishes the regulatory framework and minimum European recycling targets, ensuring compliance with the relevant legislation in all Member States.

Government of Spain
  • It approves the basic standards at domestic level, establishing criteria and requirements that must be met throughout the country.

  • It approves national waste prevention and management plans, which include policies fostering glass packaging waste management.

  • It defines the recycling targets at domestic level and ensures their fulfilment.

Competent Ministry
  • It annually calculates and publishes the recycling rate of glass packaging achieved in Spain.

  • It coordinates activities with the Autonomous Regions.

Autonomous Regions
  • They grant authorisation to Ecovidrio, by means of which it is recognised as an expert producer responsibility system that guarantees the recycling of glass packaging waste generated in their territory.

  • They enter framework agreements or agreements with Ecovidrio. These agreements establish the conditions for the collection and the actions to be carried out (awareness campaigns, initiatives for the horeca sector, etc.).

Town Hall and other local authorities
  • They have direct competence over managing glass packaging waste.

  • They enter with Ecovidrio collaboration agreements (or enter the framework agreements signed with the Autonomous Regions) that establish the conditions, mobilisation campaigns and details of the glass packaging collection service.

European Union

It establishes the regulatory framework and minimum European recycling targets, ensuring compliance with the relevant legislation in all Member States.

Government of Spain
  • It approves the basic standards at domestic level, establishing criteria and requirements that must be met throughout the country.

  • It approves national waste prevention and management plans, which include policies fostering glass packaging waste management.

  • It defines the recycling targets at domestic level and ensures their fulfilment.

Competent Ministry
  • It annually calculates and publishes the recycling rate of glass packaging achieved in Spain.

  • It coordinates activities with the Autonomous Regions.

Autonomous Regions
  • They grant authorisation to Ecovidrio, by means of which it is recognised as an expert producer responsibility system that guarantees the recycling of glass packaging waste generated in their territory.

  • They enter framework agreements or agreements with Ecovidrio. These agreements establish the conditions for the collection and the actions to be carried out (awareness campaigns, initiatives for the horeca sector, etc.).

Town Hall and other local authorities
  • They have direct competence over managing glass packaging waste.

  • They enter with Ecovidrio collaboration agreements (or enter the framework agreements signed with the Autonomous Regions) that establish the conditions, mobilisation campaigns and details of the glass packaging collection service.

Funciones ciudadanos hosteleros

Functions of citizens and the horeca sector

 

Their task is to separate and deposit the glass packaging waste in green bins. They are who kick off the recycling chain!

 

 

 

Check it out
OTHER INTERESTING CONTENT ABOUT THE SYSTEM
How is the rate calculated?

More than 7 out of 10 glass packaging items are recycled in Spain and are subsequently placed in the market. See here the calculation method used by the Ministry.

See the calculation >
This is how we are financed

As a non-profit entity, we rely on the member companies' fees to guarantee the recycling of single-use glass packaging.

Find out more >