The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached last night between the European Parliament and the Council on waste shipments, which will ensure that the EU takes greater responsibility for its waste and does not export its environmental challenges to third countries.
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The rules will also facilitate the use of waste as a resource. The agreement is a contribution to the goal of the European Green Deal of reducing pollution and advancing the circular economy.
Export of plastic waste from the EU to non-OECD countries will be prohibited.
Only if strict environmental conditions are met, individual countries may receive such waste five years after the entry into force of the new rules.
In the light of the global problems of soaring amounts of plastic waste and the challenges to its sustainable management, with this measure the EU legislators aim to prevent environmental degradation and pollution in third countries caused by plastic waste generated in the EU.
Other waste suitable for recycling will be exported from the EU to non-OECD countries only when they ensure that they can deal with it in a sustainable manner.
At the same time, it will be easier to ship waste for recycling within the EU thanks to modern digitalised procedures. There will also be stronger enforcement and cooperation in fighting waste trafficking. The new law will complement the new Environmental Crime Directive, for which a political agreement was also reached yesterday.
The adopted measures on the export of waste will set the standard as regards preventing environmental and public health problems in third countries caused by unsustainable management of waste, which was generated elsewhere.
This new regulation will only allow the export of waste to non-OECD countries if these countries inform the Commission that they are willing to import the waste and have the ability to manage it in a sustainable manner.
For plastic waste, no export will be allowed to non-OECD countries 2.5 years after the entry into force of the new law, unless the country can meet strict conditions in this case, imports would be allowed, but only five years after the entry into force of the new rules.
The Commission will also monitor waste exports to OECD countries and take action if such exports create environmental problems in the country of destination.
In addition, all EU companies that export waste outside the EU will have to ensure that the facilities receiving their waste are subject to an independent audit showing that they are managing this waste in an environmentally sound manner.
To step up the EU response against waste trafficking, there will be stronger cooperation between EU Member States and more deterrent sanctions taken against criminals involved in illicit waste trade.
The Commission will be able to act on the ground to support investigations by Member States on transnational crime linked to waste trafficking, with the direct involvement of the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) on these issues. ■