Waste shipments: stricter rules to protect the environment and human health

– Facilitating shipping of waste to be reused and recycled in the EU.
– Waste shipped outside the EU must be managed in an environmentally sound manner.
– Better enforcement and combatting illegal shipments of waste.
– EU exports of waste to non-EU countries reached 32.7 million tonnes in 2020.

The Environment Committee at the European Parliament adopted its position on revised rules governing shipments of waste to boost the EU circular economy, resource efficiency and zero pollution goals.

According to the adopted text, the Commission would develop uniform criteria for the classification of waste to ensure that the rules are not circumvented by clearly distinguishing, for example, between used goods and waste.

Strengthening the rules governing exports of waste outside the EU.

MEPs agree that EU exports of hazardous waste to non-OECD countries should be prohibited.

EU exports of non-hazardous waste for recovery would be allowed only to those non-OECD countries that give their consent and demonstrate their ability to treat this waste sustainably. The Commission would draw up a list of such recipient countries, to be updated at least every year.

The Commission would also monitor waste exports to OECD countries more closely to ensure that they manage waste in an environmentally sound manner as required by the rules and that they do not adversely affect the management of domestic waste in that country.

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Rapporteur Pernille Weiss (EPP, DK) said: “Fully utilising waste as a resource should be an essential element of our transition to a circular economy. I am happy that today we could come together in support of a balanced approach on shipments of waste: it ensures safeguards for human and environmental health, while providing the necessary framework for industry to deliver on our ambitions. I hope that in this way, the EU can become a world leader in an innovative, sustainable use of waste.”