RECYCLING AND REDUCTION OF PLASTIC WASTE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND SERBIA: THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND MECHANISMS

In the contemporary context of ecological and economic challenges, the management of plastic waste constitutes a pivotal legal and socio-economic issue of paramount importance for the preservation and protection of the environment and public health. This study examines the legal and economic aspects of plastic-waste management within the European Union, with particular emphasis on identifying deficiencies in the existing legislative framework of the Republic of Serbia. Drawing on comparative practices from EU Member States, especially the implementation of deposit‐refund schemes and eco‐taxes that obligate producers to assume full responsibility for plastic waste, the study proposes legal and economic instruments aimed at reducing plastic waste and incentivizing recycling in Serbia. Statistical data reveal that, in 2022, EU citizens generated an average of 36.1 kg of plastic packaging waste per capita, of which 14.7 kg was recycled. Between 2012 and 2022, per‐capita generation of plastic packaging waste increased by 7.6 kg, while recycled quantities rose by only 4.0 kg. Despite a relatively high recycling rate, this remains insufficient, given the ongoing growth in plastic‐waste generation. The EU’s target is to recycle 55 % of plastic packaging waste by 2030, and certain single‐use plastic products will be banned as of 1 January 2030. In Serbia, 67 355 tones of non‑hazardous plastic waste were generated in 2023, of which 56 513 tones were successfully recycled. Plastic has been identified as one of priority sectors in the European Commission’s New Circular Economy Action Plan for a Cleaner and More Competitive Europe (COM/2020/98) and its governance is integral to the European Green Deal’s sustainable‑development agenda. Particular attention has been devoted to the issue of plastics through EU Directive 2019/904, commonly known as the Single Use Plastics Directive. This Directive has received partial transposition under Serbia’s Packaging Waste Act; nevertheless, comprehensive alignment with EU standards remains outstanding. The recommendations put forward in this study aim to strengthen the legislative framework, enhance regulatory oversight, and establish economic incentives, thereby achieving further increases in recycling rates and minimizing the harmful impacts of plastic waste.