Project Description
As part of the broader European Green Deal strategy, the project aims to support the transition toward a more resource-efficient, circular economy through the development and implementation of practical guidance, enhanced regulatory cooperation, and the application of innovative technologies.
Key areas of focus include:
- End-of-Waste Criteria: Developing EU-wide standards to help materials move from “waste” to valuable resources.
- Smarter Waste Management: Exploring how technologies like AI can improve recycling, inspections, and compliance.
- Circular Business Models: Supporting regulators in overseeing eco-innovative business practices that reduce waste and extend product life.
- Key Waste Streams in Focus: Targeting plastics, textiles, and bio-waste with specific strategies and hands-on guidance.
- Risk-Based Inspections: Training authorities to design effective, data-driven inspection plans for waste facilities.
- Harmonised Action Across Europe: Promoting knowledge exchange between Member States through IMPEL's expert network.
Project History
The project brought together inspectors and permit writers to share knowledge, identify good practices, and create useful tools and guidance. Key results included better understanding of how to support reuse, repair, and remanufacturing (called Value Retention Processes), guidance on when materials are by-products instead of waste, and tools to check if materials meet REACH rules when used again. A new database was also created to share examples of how countries decide when waste stops being waste (called End-of-Waste). The project also started a special group to focus on waste incineration rules and offered training sessions on topics like REACH and circular economy. One of the main outputs was a guideline explaining how REACH applies to reused materials, with real examples from different countries. This helps make it clearer when materials can be safely and legally reused in a circular economy. Planning of environmental inspections at waste recycling installations and introducing concept of a Circularity Index and a Circular Plan to monitor and improve the circular performance of IED installations under the principles of a circular economy were the other two main fields of the project.
Next Cycle(2025-2027):
In the next cycle of the project, we build on the foundations of the New Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP 2020) and the updated Waste Framework Directive to tackle key areas where circularity can make the greatest impact — plastics, textiles, organic waste, and more.
The WMCE umbrella project brings together the following sub-projects:
- Artificial intelligence & waste management
- Organic waste treatment- management and possibilities
- Textile and strategic End of waste fluxes
- Knowledge Exchange Programme & Waste Management and Circular Economy
- Plastic End of Waste: creating a level playing field and TFS implications
- Waste recycling Risk Based Inspection Plan Phase II
- Applying EU waste legislation to circular business models
Project Outputs:
-Guidance Making the Circular Economy Work/ 2018
-REACH Regulation and Circular Economy Guideline/2023
Available in : RO
-WCME Waste Incineration - Survey Report/ 2024
-WMCE Waste Incineration Practical tools Report/2025
-WMCE Risk based Waste Inspection Plan /2025
-WMCE By-product final Report/ 2025
-WMCE IMPEL Guidance on IED&CE / 2025