Leslie Bakun

Strasbourg, France -- July 2 the European Parliament passed a bill giving European Union countries until 2008 to double their minimum target for recycling plastic bottles, cans and cardboard packages. EU governments have to agree on the rules before they become law, say they want four more years to phase in the targets. Currently, the 15 EU nations had to recycle at least 25 percent of their solid waste by 2001. If accepted, the new law will raise the target to 55 percent by 2008.