EU Waste Framework Directive

The EU Waste Directive 2008/98/EC established a fundamental framework for waste management in the European Union. Its primary goal is to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing waste generation, mitigating the adverse impacts of waste generation and management, and reducing the overall impacts of resource use while improving efficiency.
The directive has undergone significant amendments in recent years to address emerging priorities in waste management. Two notable changes have been introduced: Directive (EU) 2018/851, which introduced broader changes to strengthen waste prevention and the circular economy, and the Batteries Regulation in 2023. The 2018 amendments emphasised the importance of managing waste containing significant amounts of critical raw materials, urging Member States to implement measures for the collection, sorting and recovery of such waste, taking into account economic and technological feasibility as well as environmental and health benefits. It also covered other areas like new recycling targets, separate collection requirements, extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, among others. The Batteries Regulation built upon the waste management rules established in Directive 2008/98/EC, adapting them to the specific nature of waste batteries. It stressed the importance of effective collection systems for waste batteries, emphasising their separation from other waste streams and collection near points of sale and end-users.

Key Provisions in EU Waste Directive 2008/98/EC as amended:

• The EU Waste Directive 2008/98/EC outlines comprehensive measures for waste management across Member States. It mandates the establishment of an integrated network of waste disposal and recovery installations, allowing states to regulate waste shipments to protect their networks and environment. 
• The directive also requires Member States to ensure that hazardous waste is managed in a manner that protects the environment and human health. This includes actions to ensure traceability from production to final destination and control of hazardous waste, in line with Articles 35 and 36. 
• Member States are required to develop detailed waste management plans, which must include information on waste types, quantities, sources, and projections, as well as existing disposal and recovery installations. These plans must also address special arrangements for hazardous waste and waste containing critical raw materials, and assess future installation needs. 
• A key focus of the directive is waste prevention, promoting sustainable production and consumption models. It encourages the design and manufacture of resource-efficient, durable, and reparable products, with particular attention to those containing critical raw materials. 
• The directive also promotes reuse and repair systems, especially for electronics, textiles, furniture, and construction materials. It emphasises the importance of making spare parts and repair information available, and calls for waste reduction in industrial production and mineral extraction processes. 

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