The EU member states have agreed the negotiating mandate for upcoming discussions with the European Parliament on EU legislation concerning transfrontier waste shipments. According to a statement issued Wednesday evening, it reflects a broad consensus on the objectives of the proposed revision of the EU Waste Shipments Regulation and includes a ban on waste exports for disposal between member states, with limited exceptions. The Council said it also advocated for a prohibition on non-hazardous waste shipments to non-OECD countries, unless these countries explicitly consent to such shipments and can demonstrate that they will treat the waste in an environmentally sound manner. This is in line with the approach proposed by the European Commission.
For waste shipments to countries outside the EU, the Council would have "waste management facilities" in receiving countries undergo audits by independent bodies every three years. These audits are to verify that the facilities treat waste in an environmentally sound manner, and EU exporters will only be permitted to send waste to audited facilities. Recycling industry representatives consider the expense and administrative burden associated with the proposed audit system to be excessive....
