Unsustainable exports of waste from the EU to stop as new regulation enters into force

On Monday, the new Waste Shipments Regulation will enter into force, setting out stricter rules on the export of waste to non-EU countries. The new regulation will support the circular economy and ensure that waste exported from the European Union is treated in an environmentally sustainable way. It will increase traceability and facilitate the shipments of waste for recycling in the EU and beyond.

Under the new Regulation, as of May 2027, exports of EU waste to non-OECD countries will for instance only be allowed if these countries inform the European Commission that they are willing to import waste and demonstrate that they have the ability to manage it in a sustainable manner. The Commission will also monitor waste exports to OECD countries and take action if such exports create environmental problems in the country of destination.

The new Regulation also provides for stronger enforcement and cooperation in fighting waste trafficking, one of the most serious types of environmental crime. It will complement the new Environmental Crime Directive, which will also enter into force on Monday.

Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: “The new regulation on waste shipments will ensure that when the EU exports waste, this waste arrives at destinations where it can be managed sustainably and support a clean and circular economy. The new regulation is an important part of the green transition in which waste will be more and more turned into valuable resources. It will make shipments smooth, easier and digital, facilitating the growth of the recycling industry and reducing pollution from bad management and illegal trafficking of waste.”

Source: European Commission