The European Commission is proposing new EU rules on waste shipments to restrict waste exports, combat illegal shipments within the EU and boost the circular economy by preventing the waste of resources that could be used as secondary raw materials.
This is the threefold objective of the proposal to revise the 2006 regulation (1013/2006) that it presented on Wednesday 17 November, as part of a package of measures dictated by the European Green Deal (see other news).
“Incineration must be made more difficult and recycling easier. This will create markets of scale for recycling materials and turning waste into valuable resources”, commented Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, responsible for the Green Deal, speaking to the press. He noted that to date, only 12% of the raw materials used by European industry are derived from recycling.
“The proposal aims to stop exports to developing countries, to recycle in the EU and to do a better job of combating illegal transfers. Our approach is to reduce our environmental footprint and to take more responsibility”, stressed Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius,
Less exports to developing countries. Last year, the EU exported 33 million tonnes of waste, an increase of 75% since 2004, half of which went to developing countries, posing risks to human health and the environment in these countries, that often use incineration.
Exports of hazardous waste are already banned to non-OECD countries under the current EU Regulation, which also bans exports of waste for disposal outside the EU/EFTA.
Under the proposed revision, it will be possible to export waste for recovery, regardless of the category of waste, but only if the country of destination gives its consent to receive waste from the EU and can demonstrate that it has the necessary facilities, the capacity and the expertise to treat the waste in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner. Independent third party audits will help to measure these capacities in third countries.
It will be up to the European Commission to assess this evidence in the light of existing EU waste management requirements.
Monitoring of waste exports by OECD countries will be strengthened. The European Commission will be able to stop them.
Simplified procedures for recycling in the EU. Within the EU, the reform will ensure that the transport of waste for recycling will benefit from simplified procedures through digitalisation which will reduce the bureaucratic burden of implementing the regulation.
The text also provides for stricter conditions for incineration and landfill, which will be limited and must be justified.
For example, the transport of waste will not be allowed if it is to be landfilled or incinerated, unless economic conditions make these options necessary, for example the presence of an incinerator in a neighbouring country.
If the products are ones that are easy to transport and control, the Commission will consider how to work with OLAF in case of infringement.
Stronger investigative powers against trafficking. For illegal shipments, which account for 15-30% of waste shipments in the EU (worth €1.5 billion per year), OLAF’s investigative powers will be strengthened by a new enforcement group and rules on sanctions.
The revision of the Environmental Protection Directive through criminal law next year will complete the package, Sinkevičius said. This revision proposal is currently on the European Commission’s provisional agenda for presentation on 14 December. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)