Danish in Trouble for Cutting Waste
European Union Sues Denmark for Being Against Pollution
(Publisher's note -- remember the saying "no good deed goes unpunished"?)
BRUSSELS -- The Government of Denmark will have to
appear in court today for refusing to allow beverage containers that
are not recyclable. An article from Reuters quoted EU Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard as saying Denmark's law prohibiting sales of canned beer and soft drinks and non-refillable glass and plastic drinks bottles violates the European Union's packaging waste law. The European Commission, which is the executive of the EU, calls the ban a barrier to trade within the EU's single market, on the basis that it discriminates against non-Danish drinks makers.
Denmark, however, says the law is designed to cut down on waste and encourage people to use the most environmentally-friendly types of packaging. The suit against Denmark is without merit.
Legal proceedings at the Luxembourg-based court will probably take more than a year.
According to Reuters, the Commission is also preparing to take legal action against two other EU governments for their failure to respect EU environmental legislation. In the first case, Belgium is charged with failing to set up treatment plants for wastewater in its capital city, and also for not carrying out the necessary impact studies before beginning work on a waste incinerator. In the second case, Finland will stand trial for allegedly failing to comply with legislation on the protection of wild birds.
Notice that in those two cases, nations are being cited for failing to protect the environment. In the Danish case, Denmark is being sued for protecting the environment too well.
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This information comes from EarthVision Reports.
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