EUROPEAN COMPOST NETWORK
ECN e.V.

Network for Organic Resources and Biological Treatment

ECN E-BULLETIN No. 7_2025

28 JUly 2025

European Commission | Critical raw materials

Compost and Digestate with Critical Raw Materials Recovery Potential

The Commission opened from 27 June to 25 July a public consultation on a draft regulation implementing the Critical Raw Materials Regulation, which was adopted last year and includes phosphorus as a critical raw material.

The implementing regulation lays down in Annex the list of products, components and waste streams considered as having a potential to recover critical raw materials. The list includes ‘digestate or compost from separately collected biowaste’. This list has to be established by the Commission under the Critical Raw Materials Regulation which requires Member States to adopt and implement national measures on circularity designed to, among other, “increase the collection, sorting and processing of waste with relevant critical raw materials recovery potential, including metal scraps, and ensure their introduction into the appropriate recycling system, with a view to maximising the availability and quality of recyclable material as an input to critical raw material recycling facilities”. The list should serve as a reference for Member States when establishing their national measures.

You can find the feedback submitted by ECN here: link.

European Commission I Call for evidence I 10 September 2025

Simplification of Administrative Burden in Environmental Legislation

Following the Commission's commitment to reduce administrative burden for European companies and public authorities, the Commission published a new call for evidence to simplify and streamline administrative requirements related to the environment in the areas of waste, products, and industrial emissions.
Potential areas for simplification measures have been identified based on widespread stakeholder input collected through a previous call for evidence on the rationalisation of reporting requirements, spontaneous stakeholder input, and stakeholder meetings related to environmental legislation.
This initiative, foreseen to be published in Q4 2025, may include the following measures:

rationalising reporting/notification obligations, for example, the discontinuation of the SCIP (substances of concern in products) database under the Waste Framework Directive;
harmonisation of the provisions for authorised representatives for extended producer responsibility (EPR) in each Member State where a producer sells a product falling under EPR rules and on facilitation of EPR reporting;
streamlining reporting obligations, removing double requirements to report, promoting further digitalisation of reporting in the area of circular economy, industrial emissions and waste management, while maintaining the policy objectives;
addressing permitting challenges relating to environment assessments based on experience recently gained such as under the Net Zero Industry Act.

Please take part in the public consultation by 10 September 2025.

European Commission I Chemicals

Presentation of an Action Plan and a Simplification Omnibus on Chemicals

The Commission presented on 8 July an Action Plan for the chemicals industry to strengthen the competitiveness and modernisation of the EU chemical sector, accompanied by a simplification omnibus on chemicals to simplify EU chemicals legislation, and a proposal to reform the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

With the omnibus legislation, the Commission proposes to amend three legislations, including the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR). The Commission wants to facilitate registration for fertilising products by aligning information requirements with standard REACH rules for chemicals, to introduce criteria and a methodology for the assessment of micro-organisms used in biostimulants, to be able to adopt delegated acts which amend several component materials at the same time, and to further digitalise the information and reporting obligations.

With this text, the Commission aims to undertake a simplification process, which will continue with another omnibus on the environment, expected in October.

European Commission | Clean Industrial Deal

Outcome of the Strategic Dialogue on Circularity

On 2 July, the Commission invited around 20 stakeholders (industry, business association, NGO etc.) for a 2-hour exchange on circular economy with Commissioners Teresa Ribera (Clean, Just and Competitive Transition), Stéphane Séjourné (Industry) and Jessika Roswall (Environment). Several participants advocated for the use of public procurement, for the acceleration of permit procedures for infrastructures (recycling, collection, etc.) and raised concerns about the difficulties in making recycled materials competitive (especially plastics). In response, the Commission has put forward three upcoming legislative proposals: the Circular Economy Act, an omnibus legislation on extended producer responsibility and the future revision of the Public Procurement Directive. Several participants noted the willingness of the Commission to create a genuine economic model for circularity.

European Commission | Green Deal implementation

List of Priority and Non-Priority texts implementing Environmental Legislation

After committing to reduce the number of secondary legislations expected in the field of the environment, the Commission classified the delegated and implementing acts planned under environmental legislation by order of priority.

First, the Commission listed the texts considered to be priorities, which includes the delegated decision regarding rules for the calculation and verification of waste sorting efficiency based on average loss rates for sorted waste (under the Waste package 2018 and planned to be adopted in 2025), and the setting of minimum recycling rates for phosphorus and nitrogen (under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and planned to be adopted in 2028). Then the Commission lists the texts that are not deemed to be a priority, including the implementing act on digital labelling for identifying material composition of packaging for sorting (under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation). However, it remains unclear whether the texts not deemed to be a priority will be discarded.

European Commission | Climate legislative package post-2030

Presentation of the 2040 EU climate target

The European Commission presented on 2 July an amendment to the European Climate Law to set a 90% net GHG emission reduction target for 2040 (compared to 1990 levels), with a view to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The Commission will then adapt the legislation implementing that target to the 2040 target, and will make legislative proposals from 2026. The Commission wants to introduce more flexibilities in the way how the targets will be achieved, including a possible limited role for high-quality international carbon credits in the second part of 2030-2040, the use of domestic permanent removals in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), and enhanced flexibilities between sectors.

The proposal will now be discussed for adoption in the Parliament and the Council.

European Commission | State aid

Circularity taken into account in the new State Aid Framework

In the new State aid framework accompanying the Clean Industrial Deal and presented on 25 June, the Commission has incorporated the transition to a circular economy, thereby enabling support for projects that address circularity issues. The Commission wants to ‘reduce the risks’ associated with private investment in this type of project and encourage Member States to use equity, loans and/or guarantees.

European Commission | Environmental Implementation Review

Publication of the 2025 Environmental Implementation Review

On 7 July, the Commission published its 2025 Environmental Implementation Review. This document reports on the implementation by Member States of the EU policy framework for the transition to a circular economy as laid down in the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan. Member States show slight progress in their transition to a circular economy, given the minor increase of the circular material use rate. Many Member States are also at risk of not achieving the 2025 preparing for re-use and recycling target for municipal waste, the 2025 packaging waste recycling target and the 2035 landfill target for municipal waste. The review points out possible measures to be taken by Member States and gives examples of good practices, for instance in Poland where property owners are partially exempted of the waste fee when they compost at home.

Study | Environmental and economic impacts of waste management

Publication of a research paper on Environmental and Economic Impacts of the EU Waste Management System

A study presenting a model that quantifies environmental and economic impacts across the EU waste management system using Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing was published in the Waste Management Journal. This study identified biowaste as among the critical climate-impacting streams but with one of the highest costs.

Conferences | CYPRUS2025 – 12th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management

ECNs Scientific Officer delivers Biowaste Best-Practice Keynote and presents LIFE BIOBEST guidelines

The conference organised by the National University of Athens (NTUA) was held in Paphos, Cyprus on 25 – 28 June 2025. The conference brought together Scientists and Public Entities to dive into recent developments in the sector of waste management, including separate collection and biological treatment. Various projects funded by the LIFE programme were presented in dedicated sections.

The conference proceedings can be found here.

In 2026, the conference will take place from 24 – 27 June in Kos Island, Greece.

Project meetings | FertiCovery consortium meets in Athens

Best available Technologies for Recycled Fertilisers from secondary Raw Materials selected

The first in-person General Assembly (GA) of the FertiCovery project took place from June 30th to July 1st and was hosted by the National University of Athens (NTUA) in Athens, Greece. The meetings brought project partners (BTG, CTF, NTUA, ECN, PWR, EBA, G!E) together to provide updates and discuss WPs in an important step towards selecting best available technologies for recycling fertilisers from secondary raw materials.

Over the two days, the completed deliverables were reviewed, the next action points were determined, and important exchanges on key topics took place. This meeting enabled the consortium to complete the evaluation of the 167 technologies. All partners evaluated the technologies corresponding to their individual area of expertise to provide an accurate assessment. The technologies were rated based on feedstock supply, technology maturity and availability, regulatory and market frameworks, agronomic applicability, contribution to EU goals, and on the distribution of values chains across the EU.
The next step is to conduct an initial selection of technologies (~40) on the basis of the methodology, to reach the final selection of 25 technologies which will be presented at the first Workshop/Open Forum Event in September (09/09/2025). This final selection will be based on the availability of data and/or degree of cooperation by the companies.

Other important topics such as WP deadlines and product testing requirements were reviewed based on the current progress to ensure that the project continues to develop smoothly.

The GA concluded with a tour of the Lavrio Biorefinery at the Lavrio Technological and Cultural Park — where a biofuel production project (CIRCforBIO) has been built through the support of the EU LIFE Programme.

Bioeconomy Strategy

ECN position paper

In response to the public consultation on the Bioeconomy Strategy, ECN has published a position paper advocating for the recognition of biowaste recycling as a bioeconomy activity. In ECN’s views, clear and effective bio-waste management policy should be implemented at European level. Therefore, the Bioeconomy Strategy should mainly focus on creating markets for secondary raw materials and unlocking new investments, lifting regulatory barriers, and improving acceptance of the use of recycled biobased material in agriculture.
You can find our position paper here: link.
The update of the Bioeconomy Strategy should be presented by the Commission by the end of the year.

Events

CORE I 9-11 September 2025

6th Thematic Seminar in Söderhamn, Sweden

The next thematic seminar for our Interreg Project CORE is coming up soon – and this time, we’re heading to Söderhamn, Sweden! The focus of this seminar will be on local solutions and governance tools to improve biowaste quality and management. Project partners will present good practices under the following topics:

Improving Biowaste Quality: Tools, Methods, Communication and Local Solutions
Framework Conditions for Small-Scale and Home Composting
Governing Waste Disposal and Tariff Structures for Biowaste Management

Curious about how different regions in Europe are working to improve biowaste systems through local initiatives, smart governance, and citizen engagement? Follow the project here and discover new approaches to biowaste collection, composting, and policy design.

FertiCovery project | 9 September 2025

Online workshop – Advancing nutrient recovery and bio-based fertilisers: Overview and selection of value chains

The consortium of the FertiCovery project is organising an online workshop where participants will explore promising technologies for producing biofertilisers from secondary raw materials. This interactive session will bring together stakeholders to share experiences, validate key case studies, and shape the future of bio-based fertilisers.

Registration and agenda here.

IPT 2025 I 18 September 2025

The world's largest Demonstration Show for Composting and Biomass Processing

The Austrian Compost and Biogas Association invites you to the 9th International Practitioners' Day for Composting and Biomass on 18 September 2025 at Winkler Erdbau GmbH in Hartberg (Styria).

Here, innovations will be presented, trends set and visions discussed. Renowned specialist exhibitors from the compost sector will be there! Over 700 visitors are expected.

A fixed part of the Practitioners' Day is the compost quality competition with the awarding of the Austria-wide KompOskar – Who produces the best compost in Austria?

The event is a ‘green event’ and also part of the ‘Gschei't feiern’ initiative.

Be there and register here. For more information, visit www.kompost-biogas.info.

European Commission | 5-6 November 2025

European Mission Soil Week

The 3rd edition of the European Mission Soil Week will take place in Aarhus, Denmark on 5 and 6 November 2025. This event is co-organised by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission under the title “Leading the transition towards healthy soils: finance and landscape perspectives”.

You can find more information here.

S.O.S Save Organics in Soil

This international initiative S.O.S. SOIL – Save Organics in Soil, led by the European Compost Network (ECN) and the Italian Composting and Biogas Association (CIC), aims to highlight the importance of soil organic matter to encourage policy makers to develop instruments to move Europe towards implementing sustainable, climate proof soil management practices.

Sign the manifesto 'Save Organigs in Soil' here.