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Waste and recycling

plastic waste

SUSPROC has been supporting the Directorate General (DG) for Environment in the elaboration and implementation of the Thematic Strategy on Prevention and Recycling of Waste since 2004. This long-term strategy aims to help Europe become a recycling society that avoids waste and uses any unavoidable waste as a resource.

 

Linked to this, since 2008 SUSPROC has collaborated closely with DG Environment in the implementation of the mechanism of end-of-waste criteria, introduced by Article 6 of the Waste Framework Directive of December 2008. The objective of end-of-waste criteria is to remove the administrative burdens of waste legislation for safe and high-quality waste materials, thereby facilitating recycling. The objective is achieved by requiring high material quality of recyclables, promoting product standardisation and quality assurance, and improving harmonisation and legal certainty in the recyclable material markets.

 

End-of-waste criteria – general methodology and analysis for waste stream selection

 

The Waste Framework Directive contains specific provisions to define end-of-waste criteria. In this context, from 2005–2008 SUSPROC carried out a scientific analysis of different waste streams that are candidates to being considered end-of-waste, and developed a methodology for determining end-of-waste criteria, based on a number of case studies. The outcome of this work was presented in two main reports:

 

 

  • 'End-of-waste criteria, methodology and case studies'. This report presents a general methodology and guidelines analysing the principles according to which the criteria should be set up and provided the related analytical and impact assessment frameworks required to determine end-of-waste criteria. Three case studies - for aluminium & steel scrap, aggregates and compost - were conducted in this context, and are annexed to the report.

End-of-waste criteria – studies on specific recyclable waste materials

 

The Commission is establishing end-of-waste criteria for a number of specific recyclable materials including metal scrap of copper, aluminium and iron, waste paper, waste glass, compost, and plastics. Since 2008, SUSPROC has prepared for DG Environment a series of technical studies proposing end-of-waste criteria on these materials, using the above mentioned methodology. The studies are the result of intense consultations with experts in a technical working group, and consist of thorough techno-economic-environmental assessments that help verify when a recyclable waste material is safe for the environment and has a high enough quality to merit being released from the waste regime. The technical working group for each waste material is established with representatives of Member States, and stakeholders of industry and academia

 

The preparation of the technical studies is scheduled in stages, as detailed below.

 

Two frontrunner studies were completed in 2010 on ferrous scrap and aluminium scrap:

Based on the results of these studies, the first EoW Regulation (333/2011/EC) has been adopted. It applies to the EU since 9 October 2011. 

A second round of technical studies on waste paper, copper and copper alloy scrap, as well as waste glass (glass cullet) have been concluded:

 

On the basis of these studies, Regulations for end-of-waste on these materials are currently being prepared in comitology. The Regulation on glass EoW (1179/2012/EC) has already been adopted, and will apply to the EU from 11 June 2013. 

 

A third round of studies is in progress on biodegradable waste, and waste plastics: 

  • Biodegradable waste subject to biological treatment (compost/digestate): 
    • The Technical Working Group has already held two workshops. Following the last consultation of the Technical Working Group and the finalization of the JRC Sampling and Analysis campaign, a third working document was prepared and distributed for consultation to the stakeholders (10 August 2012). The JRC IPTS will organise a third workshop on 26 February 2013 with the Technical Working Group before concluding the study.
    • Other related documents: Compost Production and Use in the EU (2007): Main report & Annexes

 

  • For waste plastics, a Technical Working Group has also been established, and has held two meetings in Seville, 22 November 2011 and 22 may 2012, to discuss a technical working document. The second version of the working document was circulated for comments early Summer 2012. The presentations of the 22 May 2012 workshop can be downloaded here. The Final Draft has recently been distributed for consultation to the Technical Working Group. The deadline for comments is 26 April 2013.

The Commission may in the future develop end-of-waste criteria on additional streams such as aggregates, and waste-derived fuels. For getting a better insight into the feasibility of these materials for receiving end-of-waste status, JRC-IPTS launched two studies in 2010.

  • Study on the suitability of different waste-derived fuels for end-of-waste status:

The projects started early 2011 and are now close to finalisation.

In addition to the studies above, the IPTS has analysed possible methodological approaches to monitoring the degree of uptake of end-of-waste in the EU, following the introduction of the first regulation on ferrous and aluminium scrap, EU Regulation 333/2011.

Please note that JRC-IPTS support to DG Environment in the end-of-waste process is currently limited to the provision of technical proposals of criteria. DG Environment handles the overall policy making process, inter alia the comitology procedure. For more information on the policy making side of the Waste Framework Directive, see DG Environment's dedicated website.

View past projects in the field of waste and recycling.

 

Last updated: 8 March 2013

The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.