No More Recycling of Lead

March 13, 2020

By WeMove Europe

At the start of 2020, a number of concerned MEPs and organisations (including the Health and Environment Alliance and the European Environmental Bureau) reached out to us: they were worried that the European Commission’s plan to recycle lead-contaminated PVC would pass.

We took rapid action in the days before the vote, sending thousands of tweets and 27,000 emails to MEPs to ensure they stood up for our health and a toxic-free circular economy. French MEP Leïla Chaibi reported receiving over 3,000 messages from our community... and it worked!

This action prevented up to 10,000 tonnes of lead from being brought into the EU every year for at least the next 15 years, helping the development of a circular economy.

In February 2020, MEPs supported the objection to recycling lead-contaminated PVC with 394 votes in favour, 241 against and 13 abstentions.

This action was not just a success for recycling and the circular economy, but also boosted the connection between citizens and elected representatives. Some MEPs responded to the action and got in touch - to agree, disagree, and even to ask us when the vote would happen because they didn’t see it on the agenda!

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