EurEau co-signs letter calling on Commission to protect EPR schemes

On 1 January 2025, the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) entered into force, marking a pivotal step in Europe’s efforts to protect public health and preserve water resources. With its ambitious new requirements – from removing micropollutants and achieving energy neutrality to enhancing water reuse and transparency – the Directive sets a modernised framework for resilient water management across the EU.

A key innovation of the recast UWWTD is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. This mechanism rightly places the financial responsibility for tackling micropollutant pollution – 92% of which originates from the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors – on the industries responsible. By covering at least 80% of the costs of advanced ‘quaternary treatment’, the EPR scheme ensures a fair and effective implementation of the Directive while protecting water affordability for European households.

However, recent discussions have raised concerns that this vital provision may be weakened through potential revisions or future simplification packages. Such a move would not only delay the rollout of necessary treatment technologies but also risk shifting the financial burden onto already-stretched public services and water users.

Representatives from across the water sector – including utilities, local governments, NGOs, and technology providers – are united in their call to the European Commission to uphold the EPR scheme. Far from being a threat to industry competitiveness, the scheme fosters innovation, sustainable product design, and a level playing field across the single market.

With only minimal projected costs to producers and a robust legal foundation in the EU’s polluter-pays principle, the EPR scheme represents a balanced, forward-looking solution. Now is the time for the Commission to stand firm against pressure and ensure the Directive’s goals are met – for cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and a fairer society.

You can read the letter here and more about EurEau and the UWWTD here.