SUPD: Commission publishes guidance on litter clean-up costs

On 24 October, the European Commission published long-awaited technical guidance to support Member States in calculating clean-up and waste management costs under the EPR obligations of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

The non-binding guidance is intended to harmonise implementation across the EU and provide clarity on how producers should contribute to litter-related costs.

The document outlines two methodological approaches to quantify litter attributable to single-use plastics:

• an input-based approach, which uses market data and littering rate estimates, and
• an output-based approach, based on sampling studies of litter composition

Member States are advised to calculate clean-up costs based on at least one of three metrics (weight, volume, or number of items) while recognising that different plastic items may incur significantly different costs depending on the method used.

In scope are costs linked to the collection, transport, and treatment of littered items, including food containers, cups, wrappers, wet wipes, and lightweight plastic bags.

Municipalities are encouraged to include data on staff time, equipment, infrastructure cleaning, and disposal.

While the Commission acknowledges that precise identification of branded litter is difficult, producers are expected to cover costs in proportion to their market share.

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