Stakeholder associations
ACR+ is an international network of members who share the common aim of promoting sustainable consumption of resources and management of waste through prevention at source, reuse and recycling. It currently has nearly 100 members, mainly local and regional authorities as well as national networks of local authorities representing around 1100 municipalities.
ACR+ is based on three main principles stated in its founding Charter:
- Sustainable development;
- Prevention and recovery of waste;
- Partnership between public authorities, private sector and general public.
Weee-PIN is a Public Interest Network, part of ACR+
It was created within ACR+ and represents local and regional public authorities on WEEE issues at European level. The WEEE-PIN aims to involve local authorities in the revision process of the WEEE Directive 2006/92/EC and to make their voices heard in the debate. It believes that local and regional authorities have lots of expertise indeed in the collection and recycling of waste, but they are suffering today from an insufficient application of producer responsibility and from the confusing and inconsistent way the European WEEE Directive has been implemented throughout Europe.
BEUC – The European Consumers’ Organisation
Created in 1962, BEUC promotes consumers’ rights, namely: Safety, information, choice, representation, redress, education, satisfaction of basic needs, clean environment. Main priorities are: Energy & Sustainability, Financial Services, Food, Health, Safety, Consumer Contracts, Digital Environment, Consumer Redress.
BIR – Bureau of International Recycling
Founded in 1948, BIR represents over 700 member companies from the private sector and 40 national associations in more than 70 countries. It promotes materials recycling and facilitates free and fair trade of recyclables in a sustainable and competitive world economy.
CEEP - Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services
The association represents Enterprises and employers’ organisations with public participation and enterprises carrying out activities of general economic interest.
CEMR - The Council of European Municipalities
It was founded in Geneva in 1951 and it is the largest organisation of local and regional government in Europe; its members are over 50 national associations of towns, municipalities and regions from 39 countries. Together these associations represent some 100,000 local and regional authorities.
CEWEP - Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants
It represents about 390 Waste-to-Energy Plants across Europe. Its members come from 17 European countries and one from the USA. They thermally treat household and similar waste that remains after waste prevention, reuse and recycling by generating energy from it. They deliver this energy (heat and electricity) to citizens and industry. Thus, replacing limited fossil fuels, such as coal, oil or gas used by conventional power plants. The waste treated by Waste-to-Energy Plants would otherwise be sent to landfill sites. This is how Waste-to-Energy Plants help reduce dependence both on land filling and on fossil fuels.
Committee of the Regions (CoR)
It is a consultative body, representing the regional and local levels in the European Union. The Treaties oblige the Commission, Parliament and Council to consult the Committee of the Regions whenever new proposals are made in areas that affect the regional or local level. The CoR has 344 members from the 27 EU countries, and its work is organised in 6 different commissions. They examine proposals, debate and discuss in order to write official opinions on key issues.
EEB - European Environmental Bureau
Federation of Environmental Citizens Organisations
It is a EU federation of environmental organisations with 140 member organizations. Its aim is to ensure the EU secures a healthy environment and rich biodiversity for all.
ECN – European Compost Network
The Network is a collaboration of partners, promoting sustainable practices in composting, anaerobic digestion and other treatment procedures for organic residues across Europe. Members of ECN encompass organic waste experts, treatment plants and bio-waste organisations working for, or with, the sustainable recovery of biomass.
ECOS – European Environmental Citizens’ Organisation for Standardisation
It is a consortium of Environmental NGOs created to enhance the voice of environmental protection in standardisation and other technical processes. ECOS aims at increasing the ecological performance of products, ensuring sound measurement methods for pollutants, greening management systems in businesses and improving consumer information towards sustainable consumption.
EPSU - European Federation of Public Service Unions
It comprises 8 million public service workers from over 250 trade unions. It organises workers in the energy, water and waste sectors, health and social services and local and national administration, in all European countries including in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood. EPSU is the recognized regional organization of Public Services International (PSI).
ERRIN - European Regions Research and Innovation Network
It is a network of more than 90 EU regions and their Brussels-based offices. ERRIN facilitates knowledge exchange, joint action and project partnerships with the aim to strengthen its member region's research and innovation capacities and enhance their success in EU programmes. ERRIN also aspires to influence EU policies in order to make them respond better to the needs of European regions and, to this end, engages in debate with EU institutions and participates in EU policy consultations.
ESWET - European Suppliers of Waste to Energy Technology
ESWET is the European Association representing manufacturers in the field of Waste to Energy Technology. Its main purpose is to foster the development and the dissemination of the Waste to Energy technology.
ETUC - European Trade Union Confederation
It was set up in 1973 to promote the interests of working people at European level and to represent them at EU level. ETUC’s objective is an EU with a strong social dimension that safeguards the wellbeing of all its citizens. At present, ETUC has in membership 83 National Trade Union Confederations from 36 European countries, as well as 12 European industry federations, making a total of 60 million members.
It is the network of major European cities. It aims at reinforcing the role of local government in a multi-level governance structure. Its activities address a wide range of policies concerning economic development and cohesion policy, the provision of public services, climate change, energy and environment, transport and mobility, employment and social affairs, culture, education, information and knowledge society, as well as governance and international cooperation.
EUROPEN - European Organization for Packaging and the Environment
It is an industry organization dedicated to resolve the environmental challenges facing the packaging supply chain, while favouring harmonised European and national packaging regulations in an EU Single Market for packaging and packaged goods. EUROPEN promotes the benefits of packaging and best practices concerning lowering of its environmental impact, and supports packaging policies which are environmentally, economically and scientifically sound, as well as socially and politically acceptable.
EXPRA - Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance
It is the umbrella organisation for packaging and packaging waste recovery and recycling systems that are owned by obliged industry. It was founded in 2013 and aims at ensuring the recovery and recycling of packaging waste in the most economically efficient and ecologically sound manner.
FEAD - European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services
FEAD is the European Federation representing the European waste management industry. FEAD’s members are national waste management associations covering 21 Member States. FEAD represents about 3000 companies with activities in all forms of waste management. These companies employ over 295000 people who operate around 1800 recycling and sorting centres, 1100 composting sites, 260 waste-to-energy plants and 1100 controlled landfills.
IEEP – Institute for European Environmental Policy
It is an independent research organisation concerned with policies affecting the environment in Europe and beyond. Its aim is to disseminate knowledge about Europe and the environment and to analyse and present policy options. They undertake research and consultancy on the development, implementation and evaluation of environmental and environment-related policies in Europe.
ISWA - International Solid Waste Association
It is an international, independent and non-profit making association, working in the public interest to promote and develop sustainable waste management worldwide. Members of ISWA can be: non-governmental organization (association, institute, federation or similar), public or private company or individual member.
RReuse - A Network Symbol of Sustainable Development in Practice
RREUSE is a European umbrella for social enterprises with activities in reuse, repair and recycling. RREUSE's members are national and regional social economy networks. Its objectives are:
- Environmental protection: waste prevention and sustainable management;
- Social equity: social inclusion activities and affordable goods;
- Economic viability: job creation and training opportunities.