WMCE-Waste Management & Circular Economy Project

This report focuses on the planning of environmental inspections at waste recycling installations using a risk-based approach. It adapts the IRAM tool for risk assessment and defines a standard set of risk criteria to determine the frequency of inspections. The report outlines the planning cycle of environmental inspections and discusses strategies and objectives for inspection bodies to ensure compliance and promote waste recovery.

This report summarizes the activities carried out by the WMCE project between April and December 2021.

This document outlines the project's structure, meetings held, and networking efforts with other organizations. The document also details the work of various subgroups, including those focused on training, landfill guidance, the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and circular economy, byproducts, and REACH regulations. A key initiative is the development of an end-of-waste database to facilitate information sharing and uniformity in decision-making

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.

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.

This IMPEL guidance document offers insights on the definition and application of by-products under the Waste Framework Directive, which are production residues not classified as waste if they meet specific conditions. The report addresses challenges in determining by-product status, discusses national practices, and highlights the relevance of industrial symbiosis and the Waste Shipment Regulation. A practical tool is included in the annex to assist in ensuring compliance with by-product regulations.

This IMPEL guidance aims to assist regulators in aligning the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) with the principles of a circular economy . It outlines what an IED application should include regarding circular economy aspects and suggests how regulators can set permit conditions to enhance circularity1. The guidance also introduces the concept of a Circularity Index and a Circular Plan to monitor and improve the circular performance of IED installations.

This report addresses the challenge faced by regulators in the implementation of recently issued BAT Conclusions on waste incineration within IED permits.  To provide practical guidance, the project has developed templates for a Self-Monitoring Plan, a Self-Monitoring Report, and a checklist for inspectors. These tools aim to streamline the monitoring and inspection processes related to waste incineration facilities.

This report presents the findings of a survey conducted among IMPEL members to assess the implementation of Waste Incineration Best Available Techniques (BAT) Conclusions (BATc). The survey aimed to capture the current state of art in applying these BAT Conclusions by gathering experiences from permit writers and inspectors . The results of this survey will be used as the first step in developing practical tools to aid regulators in their work with waste incineration facilities.

This report focuses on the planning of environmental inspections at waste recycling installations using a risk-based approach. It adapts the IRAM tool for risk assessment and defines a standard set of risk criteria to determine the frequency of inspections. The report outlines the planning cycle of environmental inspections and discusses strategies and objectives for inspection bodies to ensure compliance and promote waste recovery.