The European Commission has received the first formal requests from 24 non-OECD countries seeking eligibility to import non-hazardous waste from the EU under the new Waste Shipments Regulation. This development highlights the EU’s commitment to environmentally sustainable waste management and aligns with the European Green Deal and the second EU Circular Economy Action Plan.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on shipments of waste
Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 establishes procedures and controls for waste shipments within, into, and out of the EU, aiming to protect human health and the environment while supporting climate neutrality and the circular economy. The regulation incorporates international standards from the Basel Convention and OECD decisions into EU law.
Main aspects of the regulation:
- Intra-EU shipments: waste disposal shipments are generally prohibited but may be allowed under strict conditions. Waste recovery shipments follow specific notification or general information requirements.
- Exports to non-EU countries: hazardous and certain other waste types are banned from export, with limited exceptions. Non-hazardous waste exports to non-OECD countries require approval and must demonstrate environmentally sound management.
- Imports into the EU: waste imports are largely restricted to Basel Convention parties and other designated countries with appropriate agreements.
- Enforcement and compliance: the regulation mandates inspections, penalties for violations, and the establishment of an EU-wide enforcement group to detect and prevent illegal shipments.
This regulation applies from 21 May 2026, with the first list of approved non-OECD waste importers to be adopted by 21 November 2026 an updated regularly.
Stricter controls on waste exports
The revised Waste Shipment Regulation establishes stricter controls on waste exports to non-OECD countries, particularly to prevent the EU from offloading its waste problems into other regions. A key aspect of this regulation is the full ban on plastic waste exports, which will take effect from 21st November 2026.
For other types of non-hazardous waste, non-OECD countries must formally request permission from the European Commission to continue importing waste from the EU. The deadline for submitting these requests was 21st February 2025, by which 24 countries had applied for inclusion on the list of eligible nations.
The countries that have submitted requests include:
- Asia & Middle East: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Europe & Mediterranean Region: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Monaco, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine.
- Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Togo, Tunisia.
- Latin America: El Salvador.
The Commission will now assess these applications and determine the list of countries that meet the necessary environmental and regulatory criteria to continue importing non-hazardous waste from the EU. The first list of authorised countries is set to be published by 21st November 2026, and only these countries will be able to receive waste exports from the EU beyond 21st May 2027.
EMERITUS’ role in tackling waste trafficking
The stricter waste export regulations highlight the ongoing need for enhanced monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, particularly in detecting illegal waste trafficking. This is where EMERITUS can play an important role.
EMERITUS is an innovative initiative aimed at equipping law enforcement authorities and environmental enforcement agencies with advanced technological tools to combat environmental crimes, including illegal waste trafficking. By integrating satellite imagery, drones, AI algorithms, and blockchain technology, the EMERITUS platform enhances the ability to track waste shipments, identify unauthorized disposal sites, and collect court-admissible evidence in a secure and efficient manner.
As waste management regulations tighten, collaboration between regulatory bodies and projects like EMERITUS becomes essential to ensuring compliance and preventing illicit activities. The project’s focus on cross-border environmental crime monitoring aligns closely with the EU’s objectives to improve the transparency and accountability of waste shipments worldwide.
La entrada EMERITUS insights on the new EU waste shipments regulation and its impact aparece primero en Emeritus project.