In 2023, the European Commission will adopt a legislative proposal to amend the waste framework directive and it is now doing the official impact assessment. As part of the obligation of consultation, the European Commission launched a call for evidence that will close officially on 22nd February.
The initiative aims to improve the overall environmental outcome of waste management in line with the waste hierarchy and [to improve] the implementation of the polluter pays principle.
The initiative’s objectives are to:
- decrease waste generation,
- improve separate waste collection to yield optimal recycling results, including by avoiding contamination of recyclable waste,
- increase the amounts of waste oils collected and treated in line with the waste hierarchy.
The European Commission explained what are the different options that will be analysed in the impact assessment. During the period of the call for evidence (25 January 2022 - 22 February 2022) stakeholders can suggest the Commission to extend the scope of the impact assessment to additional options to the ones already mentioned. If an option is not analysed, the Commission cannot make a proposal accordingly. For instance, the European Commission says it will assess the impacts (environmental, economic and social) for setting collection and regeneration targets for waste oils.
The regulatory options that the Commission will assess are:
- introducing targets on waste reduction and/or residual waste reduction; expanding the role of EPR schemes in attaining waste-prevention objectives;
- improve the separate collection of waste by clarifying and/or restricting the scope of derogations provided for in Article 10(3) WFD;
- introducing minimum requirements for source segregation and separate collection of waste that facilitate separate collection of used items for re-use and preparation for re-use and high-quality recycling of waste.
Other options include reinforcing the polluter pays principle by expanding EPR schemes to other product categories, like textiles and oils; improving enforcement of EPR requirements, in particular for products sold online; and setting waste oil collection and regeneration targets.