The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement on revising EU procedures and control measures for waste shipments, introducing more stringent rules on waste shipments, as reported by Reuters on November 17. The most eye-catching provision is that plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries will no longer be allowed within two and a half years after the new regulations take effect. The parliament will also ensure that plastic waste exports to OECD countries will have to meet stricter requirements, including the implementation of prior written notification and consent procedures, along with stricter compliance monitoring. Additionally, the export of specific non-hazardous wastes and mixtures of non-hazardous wastes for recovery will only be permitted to non-OECD countries that meet the criteria for environmentally sound waste treatment.

The European Commission proposed a revision of waste shipment rules in 2021 to push member states to move away from sending their trash to poorer countries and bolster their capacity to process and reuse waste domestically. In 2020, the EU exported around 33 million tons of waste, with about half of it flooding into poorer non-OECD countries that lack robust waste management regulations compared to the EU. To address this issue, the new regulations will simplify rules for waste shipments within the EU, facilitating the transportation of plastic, paper, iron, and steel to European recycling facilities. Moreover, a central electronic hub will be established two years after the law takes effect to digitalize information and data on waste shipments within the EU, aiming for improved reporting and transparency.

Sources:

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/eu-reaches-deal-stop-sending-waste-countries-that-cant-process-it-2023-11-17/

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20231114IPR10510/deal-reached-on-stricter-eu-rules-for-waste-shipments

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/eu-eyes-tighter-waste-rules-limit-countries-shipping-trash-abroad-2021-11-17/

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/waste-shipment-regulation-report-2023-03-20_en