Strengthening Environmental Inspections in Waste Recycling: A Risk-Based Approach
Recommendation 2001/331/EC sets the minimum standards for environmental inspections across EU Member States. It requires authorities to develop Environmental Inspection Plans (EIPs), outlining clear inspection strategies and making them publicly accessible.
Under Article 34 of Directive 2008/98/EC, all facilities involved in waste treatment must undergo regular inspections by competent authorities. These inspections are critical to ensuring compliance and safeguarding public health and the environment.
For waste recycling installations, Directive 2018/851 (Recital 17) highlights the importance of clarity regarding the status of materials—whether they are still considered waste or have ceased to be waste after recovery. Member States are urged to enforce regulations that verify compliance with EU laws on waste, chemicals, and products, especially for:
- High-risk waste streams (by nature or volume),
- Waste from innovative recovery methods, and
- Waste intended for use in other Member States.
Project Overview: Enhancing Inspection Planning with IRAM
This project aims to adapt the IRAM tool—originally developed through the IMPEL EasyTool Project—for use in risk-based inspection planning at waste recycling facilities. The updated tool introduces a standardized set of risk criteria to support more effective environmental governance.
In 2024, the project released "The Report on Risk-Based Waste Inspection Plan", a model plan aligned with the IMPEL “Doing The Right Things” (DTRT) guidelines. This innovative approach integrates strategic planning, prevention, and inspection to:
- Improve resource allocation,
- Boost inspection effectiveness
- Increase transparency and accountability.
The project will continue into 2025 with a focus on refining tools and delivering training sessions on implementing this model plan.
A New Strategic Approach to Inspections
This initiative marks a shift toward integrated planning and inspection. It recognizes that a successful environmental inspection system must be:
- Strategically planned with clear priorities and objectives,
- Supported by well-defined methodologies and control mechanisms,
- Guided by measurable performance indicators.
By applying a risk-based inspection strategy, authorities can better prioritize their efforts, especially in sectors like waste management that are vulnerable to corruption and high environmental impact.
You can find the full report under the “Project Outputs” section in the menu on the right. The briefing paper below offers a concise summary and analysis of the report’s key themes, insights, and findings. The briefing paper is available to read online or download it as a PDF.
📑"Briefing Risk based Waste Inspection Plan"