On Tuesday 27 February, MEPs endorsed the interinstitutional agreement reached by Parliament and the EU Council on 17 November on stricter rules for the export of waste from the EU to third countries (see EUROPE 13295/6) (587 votes in favour, eight against and 33 abstentions).
“The revised law will give Europeans greater certainty that our waste will be properly managed, wherever it is shipped”, commented Pernille Weiss (EPP, Danish). She added: “The EU will finally take responsibility for its plastic waste by banning exports to non-OECD countries”.
As a reminder, the text stipulates that exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries must be banned within two and a half years of the regulation coming into force. Exports to OECD countries will be subject to stricter rules.
The text also prohibits the transport of waste for disposal in other EU countries, except in exceptional circumstances. A digital platform to centralise data on waste shipments will also be set up to facilitate the exchange of information within the EU. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)