Guidance and tools (4)

A crucial element in the transition to the Circular Economy are the innovations at production and recycling facilities that aim at resource efficiency, the prevention of waste and the use of production residues or materials recovered from waste as secondary raw materials. A key condition for making these circular innovations work is to better connect policy, law and regulation on the ground. This guidance was developed to support regulators, policy- and law-makers and businesses in enabling and carrying through such innovations and rise to some of the commonly shared challenges.

The report contains the minutes of the MIW&IMPEL Conference, where the “Guidance for regulators on enabling innovations for the circular economy (prevention and recycling of waste)” has been launched.

As an inspection at a landfill has to cover different subjects. Based on IMPEL’s project on Landfills, the inspection team decided to choose certain subjects to focus on for this guidance, namely:
(1) Criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste.
(2) Gas control.
(3) Protection of soil and water (underground water).
(4) Water control and leach ate management.

This guidance contains for each of the above mentioned subjects a short description, including the requirements in the Landfill Directive regarding this activity. Secondly reference is given to (know) existing guidance and tools in EU member states.

In view of problematic waste streams worldwide, notably of electronic waste, end-of-life vehicles and their components from Europe to Africa, waste shipment experts nowadays agree on the necessity to target more effectively the sources of illegal waste streams and the “upstream” facilities where such waste is collected, stored and/or treated prior to export. The IMPEL-TFS “Waste Sites” project, which started in early 2011, aims at a better understanding of those waste streams and facilities, at an exchange of information and best practices, and at the development of guidance on site identification, inspection and follow-up to promote compliance.

The present Waste Sites Manual is based on the experience of the project team, an analysis of existing guidance documents, questionnaires sent to IMPEL member countries and the results of an expert workshop in Frankfurt a.M. (Germany). It provides an introduction into the economics of the illegal waste trade and the legal context for waste sites, and highlights the importance of proactive measures, such as awareness-raising campaigns and the collaboration with customs authorities, trade associations and shippinglines. Guidance is then given on the identification of problematic waste sites and examples of successful methods used in some EU countries, such as the Waste Stream Approach. The central part of the Manual is devoted to the preparation and execution of site inspections, focusing on inspection methods, necessary information and contacts, distinction of waste and non-waste, and safety aspects. The last chapter of the document addresses the necessary follow-up to a site inspection. The text of the Manual is supplemented by 11 Annexes which include decision trees, checklists, relevant forms,
tables of procedural requirements and useful weblinks.

This report examines the application of REACH Regulation (EU) No 1907/2006 to by-products and End-of-Waste materials within the Circular Economy. The report clarifies the relationship between REACH and waste legislation, specifically the Waste Framework Directive, providing practical examples and guidance on determining REACH obligations for waste-derived substances. The report covers key REACH aspects, including registration, authorization, restrictions, and exemptions, with a dedicated section on recycled plastics and enforcement in recovery plants.