Waste trade

What is waste trade?

The waste produced in a single country is not always disposed of or recycled in that country. Waste can be traded between countries. This happens for various purposes, including:

• treatment of waste (including the recovery of raw materials contained in the waste)
• disposal

Every year, over 2 000 million tonnes of waste are generated by all economic activity and households in the EU. This is equal to 4.8 tonnes of waste per capita – roughly the weight of an African elephant.

Although most of the waste generated in the EU is treated domestically, significant amounts are shipped to other countries. Around 32.7 million tonnes are exported – an increase of 75% since 2004, while 70 million tonnes are traded within the EU.  

Türkiye​ is by far the main destination of EU waste exports (13.7 million tonnes), followed by India and the United Kingdom (European Commission data, 2020).   

Iron and steel are the waste most traded by the EU

Why is regulating waste trade necessary?

If it is not regulated and controlled, waste trade can be harmful to the environment and to people’s health.

Even more so when containing hazardous substances, waste can cause pollution of land and oceans and have disastrous environmental consequences. Plastic waste, for instance, is generally not biodegradable and stays in the environment for a very long time.

By putting restrictions on waste exports and setting up monitoring measures, environmental risks can be limited or averted.

In addition to preventing pollution, setting rules for the trade in waste can also ensure that the raw materials contained in the waste can be re-used or recycled and can thus help develop a sustainable circular economy.

Today in the EU, only 46% of all waste is recycled (European Environment Agency data, 2020). Globally, it is estimated that less than 20% of waste gets recycled. This shows there is high potential for increasing recycling rates.

What waste is the most recycled in the EU?

Another aspect is illegal trade in waste.

Today, between 15% and 30% of waste shipments might be illegal. Shipments which are not tracked escape controls and are more likely to end up disposed of or treated improperly, increasing environmental risks. Illegal trade in waste is also a missed opportunity to re-use and recycle materials.  

How does the EU regulate waste shipments?

The EU rules on waste shipments, first adopted in 2006, govern both:

• export and import of waste from the EU to non-EU countries
• waste shipments between EU member states

All types of waste are concerned by the rules.

Within the EU both hazardous and non-hazardous waste shipments are permitted and regulated. For shipments outside of the EU on the other hand, the rules prohibit the export of hazardous waste from EU countries to non-EU and non-OECD countries. Notification and consent procedures for waste shipments are set out in the rules.

Rules beyond borders

The EU waste shipment regulation builds on the Basel Convention of 1989 which is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement on hazardous wastes and other wastes. The EU has been a party to this United Nations agreement since 1994.

In addition, EU waste shipment rules are based on a 2001 decision by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – of which most EU countries are members – establishing a control system for recovery of waste within OECD countries.

• Basel Convention (website)
• OECD decision on a control system for waste recovery

Update of EU waste shipments rules

In 2024, the EU updated its rules to better regulate trade in waste within the EU and with non-EU countries. In line with the European Green Deal and the circular economy action plan, the objectives of the revised EU waste shipment regulation are to:

• promote the circular economy within the EU
• ensure that waste exports do not harm the environment and human health
• address illegal shipments

The updated rules include:

• stricter rules on the export of waste to non-EU countries
• improved rules for shipments within the EU
• measures to tackle illegal shipments

Exports to non-EU countries

The new rules include stricter provisions on the export of waste to non-EU countries.

The goal is to ensure that waste is exported from the EU into non-EU countries only when there is a guarantee that the recipient country has environmentally sound management practices in place and can treat waste in a sustainable fashion.

The update of the rules maintains the ban to export:

• waste for disposal to non-EU countries
• hazardous waste destined for recovery in non-OECD countries

In addition, stricter rules are introduced for the export of plastic waste to non-EU countries. This includes a ban on exports of non-hazardous plastic waste to non-OECD countries, while exports of non-hazardous plastic waste to OECD countries will be allowed but subject to the more stringent procedure of prior consent. 

The updated rules also include:

• the listing of countries authorised to import waste from the EU, based on countries’ waste treatment capabilities
• monitoring and control by the European Commission of waste exports to OECD countries
• an obligation on EU exporting companies to carry out independent audits on waste management facilities
• the setting of binding criteria for ‘used goods’, like vehicles and batteries

Shipments within the EU

The focus of the new rules when it comes to moving waste between EU countries is to boost the circular economy.

The rules improve procedures so as to foster a more sustainable management of waste and increased recycling rates for raw materials.

Among the measures are:

• a ban on shipments of all waste for disposal, except if authorised under the prior consent procedure
• less stringent procedures for the so-called 'green-listed' waste shipments for recovery 
• the digitalisation of procedures
• the fast-tracking of procedures for waste to be recovered
• the harmonisation of waste classification within the EU

Illegal shipments

To address illegal trade in waste, the updated rules aim to:

• support transnational investigations on waste trafficking
• create an EU enforcement group to increase coordination, also with international partners
• improve the rules on penalties and enforcement

The role of the Council

The EU waste shipments regulation follows the ordinary legislative procedure. The Council and the European Parliament act as co-legislators and have to agree on the final text of the updated rules.

Following the proposal for the revision of the rules by the European Commission in November 2021, the Council has held discussions at technical level among member states' representatives within the Working Party on the Environment.

In May 2023, the EU member states within the Council agreed on a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament. The Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement in November 2023. 

The rules were adopted by the Council in March 2024, bringing the legislative process to a close. 

• Waste shipments: Council signs off on more efficient, updated rules (press release, 25 March 2024)

Where does EU waste come from?

Over 35% of EU waste is generated by the construction sector. Mining and quarrying are the second highest sector in terms of waste generation.