Since 1 January, new EU rules have been in place to stop the export of problematic plastic waste to third countries that often lack the capacity and standards to manage it in a sustainable way, but also to control more strictly the import of plastic waste into the EU.
The export of unsorted plastic waste to non-OECD countries is now completely banned.
Export from the EU of clean and non-hazardous waste for recycling to non-OECD countries is only allowed under specific conditions: - the importing country must inform the European Commission of the rules applicable to such imports; - export from the EU will have to comply with the conditions set by the importing country. For countries that do not provide information on their legal regime, the prior notification and consent procedure applies.
The export of hazardous plastics waste and plastics waste that is difficult to recycle to OECD countries is subject to the ‘prior notification and consent procedure’.
The import into the EU of hazardous plastic waste and plastic waste that is difficult to recycle from third countries will also be subject to the prior notification and consent procedure.
“This is an important step in the fight against plastic pollution,shifting to a circular economy and achieving the aims of the European Green Deal”, commented Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.
These new rules on the export, import and intra-Community shipment of plastic waste were adopted by the Commission on 22 December 2020. They amend the EU Shipment of Waste Regulation (1013/2006) to implement the decision taken in May 2019 by the parties to the Basel Convention.
In 2019, the EU exported 1.5 million tonnes of plastic waste, mainly to Turkey and Asian countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India and, to a lesser extent, China). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)