Background information

On 16 November 2023, the European Parliament and the EU Council reached a political agreement on the EU Waste Shipment Regulation, which will ensure that the EU takes more responsibility for the waste it produces and does not export its environmental problems to third countries. The legislation will also facilitate the use of waste as a resource. The new regulation is a key commitment of the European Green Deal to reduce pollution and develop a circular economy. Once formally adopted, the regulation will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication.

Content of measure

The agreed regulation will ban the export of plastic waste from the EU to non-OECD countries. Other recyclable waste will only be exported from the EU to non-OECD countries if they ensure that it can be handled in a sustainable way. This is intended as an EU contribution to preventing environmental degradation and pollution in third countries caused by waste generated in the EU. The circulation of waste for recycling is crucial for the EU transition to a circular economy and security of supply of raw materials. Therefore, the EU will also modernise current procedures for shipping re-usable waste between Member States, in the effort to develop more digital and transparent mechanisms to prevent illegal waste trade. This will be accompanied by the provision of stricter sanctions on criminals involved in waste trafficking with the direct involvement of the EU Anti-Fraud Office.

Use of measure

No information available for the moment.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Other groups of workers	Sector specific set of companies	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies EU (Council, EC, EP)	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There is no evidence of trade union involvement in the preparation of this measure.The extent of the involvement of employers' organisations is unknown.

Views and reactions

In a joint letter, nine European business organizations dealing with waste management supported the proposed regulation. The position of trade unions has not been recorded so far.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 15 November 2023: Joint letter of the PVC & Recyclers Industries regarding the EU Waste Shipments Regulation’s provisions on intra-EU plastic waste shipments (fead.be)
• 17 November 2023: Commission welcomes political agreement on stronger control of exports of waste (ec.europa.eu)