🌱 How much waste is exported?
The international trade of waste has been increasing and the EU is an active participant in this. According to the European Commission, “nearly 70 million tonnes of waste are shipped between EU countries each year”. Moreover, “the EU exported around 33 million tonnes of waste to non-EU countries and imported around 16 million tonnes” in 2020. The export of waste out of the EU “has become a common way of dealing with some waste streams generated in the EU”. As waste crime (such as illegal waste dumping) is fairly lucrative, there are unfortunately also various organized criminal groups active in the field. It is estimated that “between 15% and 30% of waste shipments [made in or from the EU] might be illegal” and that this illicit market generates roughly EUR 9.5 billion in annual revenues in the EU.
🌱 Why do waste exports need to be regulated?
The trade of waste can be beneficial for our economies. Waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials, which can “replac[e] virgin materials and [thereby] contribut[e] to a more circular economy”. Yet, if toxic waste is moved in an uncontrolled manner and not managed properly at its destination, this can harm human health and “have disastrous environmental consequences”. Therefore, the Basel Convention from 1989 deals with “the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal”. Moreover, there is an OECD decision from 2001, which “establish[es] a control system for waste shipments for recovery within the OECD area”. In the EU, these rules are implemented through the Waste Shipment Regulation from 2006.
🌱 What regulatory changes does the EU have planned?
Exports of waste from the EU to third countries – particularly non-OECD members – have increased significantly since the original adoption of the Waste Shipment Regulation. According to the European Commission, “[t]he lack of detailed provisions to ensure that waste is managed sustainably in the countries of destination has led to weak enforcement and environmental and public health challenges in those countries”. On 17 November 2021, the European Commission therefore adopted a proposal for a new regulation. Two years later, on 17 November 2023, the European Parliament and European Council then reached a political agreement on waste exports and shipments. Following the political agreement, they must still formally adopt the regulation for it to come into force.
🌱 What is the goal of the new measures?
The proposed regulation has three main goals. These are “ensuring that the EU does not export its waste challenges to third countries; making it easier to transport waste for recycling and reuse in the EU; and better tackling illegal waste shipments”.
Read more about the proposed regulation here:
- https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_5818
- https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_5918
- https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_5916
- https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-shipments_en
- https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/fs_21_5988
- https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-new-regulation-waste-shipments_en
- https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-law_en
- https://www.miragenews.com/eu-commission-approves-stricter-waste-export-1126261/