@EU_Commission

As long as the recycling rates aren't going up drastically, it sometimes feels like waste of time.

Waste sorting must be followed by real, high-rate recycling within the EU, no selling to other countries, and avoiding waste burning must be realized to a much higher degree. Products must be designed to be recycled, there must be standards and laws and controls. But this is quite expensive, so:
First and foremost, reduce and reuse (as also told in another reply)!