Spain has been referred to the Court of Justice for failings in waste management, following persistent infringement of the waste framework directive (2008/98/EC), the European Commission announced on Thursday 7 June.
The Commission says that, despite receiving a number of warnings (a letter of formal notice in November 2016 and a reasoned opinion in July 2017), Spain has still not established or revised waste management plans in four autonomous regions (Aragon, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and Madrid) and in the Autonomous City of Ceuta.
Waste management plans are key instruments in reducing adverse impact on human health and the environment of the generation and management of waste and in moving towards the circular economy.
Directive 2008/98/EC required Spain to establish the necessary waste management plans to cover all of its territory by 12 December 2010, and to evaluate and revise these plans at least every six years. Moreover, Spain should have informed the Commission of the waste management plans once they were adopted and also of any substantial revisions to the plans. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)