The European Commission has unveiled a major update to the Waste Shipments Regulation (WSR), introducing tighter rules on waste exports to non-OECD countries, including a full ban on such exports by May 21, 2027.
As the deadline for non-OECD countries to formally request inclusion in the list of approved waste importers looms on February 21, 2025, the Commission has already received 24 applications from countries eager to continue importing non-hazardous waste from the EU. These include Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
The Commission will now review these applications and compile a list of approved countries by November 21, 2026, detailing which nations are eligible to import specific waste streams from the EU. Once this list is finalized, any non-OECD country not included will face a strict export ban starting May 21, 2027. This list will be regularly updated, at least once every two years, and countries that miss the initial deadline still have a chance to submit requests.
Meanwhile, the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) has issued a call to the nearly 150 non-OECD countries that missed the deadline, urging them to act swiftly. They warn that without prompt action, an automatic export ban could jeopardize the smooth flow of international trade in recycled materials.
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