Guidelines were published by the European Commission, on Tuesday 14 April, to help Member States ensure proper waste management in the EU during COVID-19 times, in line with the requirements of EU waste legislation.
The objective is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, while preventing and reducing disruptions in proper waste management.
“Proper waste management is part of the essential services underpinning the well-being of our citizens delivered by numerous companies dealing with waste and keeping the circular economy going”, said EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius.
The Commission recognises the efforts of waste management operators to ensure the continuity of proper management and to deal with the increasing volume of household and medical waste. To support them, its five-page document provides guidance on municipal and health care facilities waste management as well as guidance on the health and safety of waste management operators and their workers.
These guidelines have been developed after consultation with Member State experts and key stakeholders in the field of waste management and are based on advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
The Commission states that it will continuously monitor the situation with Member States and waste operators. It invites them to communicate the measures they have taken in response to the coronavirus crisis in the area of waste to the following address: ENV-WASTE-COVID-19@ec.europa.eu.
To consult the document: https://bit.ly/3a7rEmH (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)