Achieve recycling of at least 65% of all packaging waste by weight by 31 December 2025 and 70% by 31 December 2030, with material lines of 50/55% plastic, 25/30% wood, 70/80% ferrous metals, 50/60% aluminium, 70/75% glass and 75/85% paper and cardboard.

Member States must comply, and this is law in force.

Why it matters

This is law in force, not a proposal.

It is Art. 52(1), in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. as of 2026-08-18
The act gives its timing as: 31 December 2025 and 31 December 2030 (Art. 52(1)). as of 2026-08-18
It names one industry by name: Waste. as of 2026-08-18
Compliance is checked by reporting to the Commission under Art. 56(1)(a), continuous, measured at 2025 and 2030. as of 2026-08-18

Addressee Member StatesAct Regulation (EU) 2025/40, base actArticle Art. 52(1)Class Governments

What changes

NOTHING MOVES. Every figure in Art. 52(1) is identical to 94/62/EC Art. 6(1)(f) to (i) as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/852: 65/70 overall, plastic 50/55, wood 25/30, ferrous 70/80, aluminium 50/60, glass 70/75, paper and cardboard 75/85. Anything presenting PPWR as raising the recycling targets is wrong. The postponement mechanism in Art. 52(2) is likewise carried over from Art. 6(1a).

Prior rule vs new rule

Prior rule

Trigger

packaging waste generated on the national territory

Obligation

Identical targets: 65% of all packaging waste recycled by 31 December 2025 and 70% by 31 December 2030, with the same six material lines at the same percentages -- plastic 50/55, wood 25/30, ferrous metals 70/80, aluminium 50/60, glass 70/75, paper and cardboard 75/85.

New rule

Trigger

packaging waste generated on the national territory

Obligation

65% by 31 December 2025 and 70% by 31 December 2030, with the same six material lines at the same percentages.

Who is affected

Addressee

Member States

Class

Governments

Sectors

Names Waste and landfill · Reaches Glass and ceramics, Aluminium and metals, Steel, Paper and board, Wood and wood products, Plastics converting

Applies

31 December 2025 and 31 December 2030 (Art. 52(1))

Burden drivers

D4 · D5 — 2 of 7 marks fire on this provision.

Binds a Member State, not a company by size.

Source text

Verbatim

Member States shall take the necessary measures to achieve the following recycling targets covering the whole of their territory: (a) by 31 December 2025, a minimum of 65 % by weight of all packaging waste generated; (b) by 31 December 2025, the following minimum percentages by weight of the following specific materials contained in packaging waste generated: (i) 50 % of plastic; (ii) 25 % of wood; (iii) 70 % of ferrous metals; (iv) 50 % of aluminium; (v) 70 % of glass; (vi) 75 % of paper and cardboard; (c) by 31 December 2030, a minimum of 70 % by weight of all packaging waste generated; (d) by 31 December 2030, the following minimum percentages by weight of the following specific materials contained in packaging waste generated: (i) 55 % of plastic; (ii) 30 % of wood; (iii) 80 % of ferrous metals; (iv) 60 % of aluminium; (v) 75 % of glass; (vi) 85 % of paper and cardboard.

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