On 17 November last year, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new Regulation on waste shipments, in order to boost an innovative and sustainable waste management according to the European Green Deal.
The proposal follows mainly a two-side approach: facilitate intra-EU waste shipments to promote circular economy and tackle the export of illegal waste outside the EU, by proposing stronger rules on waste exports, a more efficient system for the circulation of waste as a resource and determined action against waste trafficking.
Waste exports to non-OECD countries will be restricted and only allowed if third countries are willing to receive certain wastes and are able to manage them sustainably. Waste shipments to OECD countries will be monitored and can be suspended if they generate serious environmental problems in the country of destination. Under the proposal, all EU companies that export waste outside the EU should ensure that the facilities receiving their waste are subject to an independent audit showing that they manage this waste in an environmentally sound manner.
Within the EU, the Commission is proposing to simplify the established procedures considerably, facilitating waste to re-enter the circular economy, without lowering the necessary level of control. This helps to reduce the EU's dependence on primary raw materials and supports innovation and the decarbonisation of EU industry to meet the EU's climate objectives. The new rules are also bringing waste shipments to the digital era by introducing an electronic exchange of documentation.
The proposed Regulation on waste shipments further strengthens action against waste trafficking, including setting up an EU Waste Shipment Enforcement Group, empowering the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF to support transnational investigations by EU Member States on waste trafficking, and providing stronger rules on administrative penalties.
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans said: “Our new rules to govern waste shipments will boost the circular economy and ensure that waste exports do not harm the environment or human health elsewhere.” Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said: “We should stop exporting pollution and the waste shipment regulations we are putting on the table are the most ambitious legislative attempts to tackle these issues worldwide ever.”
Once into force the new proposed regulation on waste shipment will call for more innovative recycling infrastructure in the EU and also for a stronger cooperation in waste management among member States, two of the main goals of the Interreg Europe SMART WASTE project.
More: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/publications/proposal-new-regulation-waste-shipments_en
