Prevention and recycling of waste
Every year, some 2 billion tones of waste - including particularly hazardous waste - are produced in the Member States, and this figure is rising steadily.
Stockpiling waste is not a viable solution and destroying it is unsatisfactory due to the resulting emissions and highly concentrated, polluting residues.
The best solution is, as always, to prevent the production of such waste, reintroducing it into the product cycle by recycling its components where there are ecologically and economically viable methods of doing so.
The EU has a framework for coordinating waste management in the Member States in order to limit the generation of waste and to optimise the organisation of waste treatment and disposal.
Legislative instruments
- 31975L0439
Council Directive 75/439/EEC of 16 June 1975 on the disposal of waste oils
Official Journal L 194 , 25/07/1975 P. 0023 - 0025
- 31978L0176
Council Directive 78/176/EEC of 20 February 1978 on waste from the titanium dioxide industry
Official Journal L 054 , 25/02/1978 P. 0019 - 0024
- 31982L0883
Council Directive 82/883/EEC of 3 December 1982 on procedures for the surveillance and monitoring of environments concerned by waste from the titanium dioxide industry
Official Journal L 378 , 31/12/1982 P. 0001 - 0014
- 31986L0278
Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture
Official Journal L 181 , 04/07/1986 P. 0006 - 0012
- 31991L0689
Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste
Official Journal L 377 , 31/12/1991 P. 0020 - 0027
- 31992L0075
Council Directive 92/75/EEC of 22 September 1992 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by household appliances
Official Journal L 297 , 13/10/1992 P. 0016 - 0019
- 31992L0112
Council Directive 92/112/EEC of 15 December 1992 on procedures for harmonizing the programmes for the reduction and eventual elimination of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry
Official Journal L 409 , 31/12/1992 P. 0011 - 0016
- 31994L0062
European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste
Official Journal L 365 , 31/12/1994 P. 0010 - 0023
- 31996L0059
Council Directive 96/59/EC of 16 September 1996 on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT)
Official Journal L 243 , 24/09/1996 P. 0031 - 0035
- 31999L0031
Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste
Official Journal L 182 , 16/07/1999 P. 0001 - 0019
- 32000D0479
2000/479/EC: Commission Decision of 17 July 2000 on the implementation of a European pollutant emission register (EPER) according to Article 15 of Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) (notified under document number C(2000) 2004) (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 192 , 28/07/2000 P. 0036 - 0043
- 32000D0532
2000/532/EC: Commission Decision of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (notified under document number C(2000) 1147) (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 226 , 06/09/2000 P. 0003 - 0024
- 32000L0053
Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of life vehicles - Commission Statements
Official Journal L 269 , 21/10/2000 P. 0034 - 0043
- 32000L0055
Directive 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on energy efficiency requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting
Official Journal L 279 , 01/11/2000 P. 0033 - 0039
- 32000L0059
Directive 2000/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2000 on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues - Commission declaration
Official Journal L 332 , 28/12/2000 P. 0081 - 0090
- 32000L0076
Directive 2000/76/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste
Official Journal L 332 , 28/12/2000 P. 0091 - 0111
- 32000R1980
Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme
Official Journal L 237 , 21/09/2000 P. 0001 - 0012
- 32001R2422
Regulation (EC) No 2422/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on a Community energy efficiency labelling programme for office equipment
Official Journal L 332 , 15/12/2001 P. 0001 - 0006
- 32002L0095
Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
Official Journal L 037 , 13/02/2003 P. 0019 - 0023
- 32002L0096
Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) - Joint declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission relating to Article 9
Official Journal L 037 , 13/02/2003 P. 0024 - 0039
- 32002R2150
Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 332 , 09/12/2002 P. 0001 - 0036
- 32003D0033
2003/33/EC: Council Decision of 19 December 2002 establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills pursuant to Article 16 of and Annex II to Directive 1999/31/EC
Official Journal L 011 , 16/01/2003 P. 0027 - 0049
- 32005D0270
2005/270/EC: Commission Decision of 22 March 2005 establishing the formats relating to the database system pursuant to Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste (notified under document number C(2005) 854) (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 086 , 05/04/2005 P. 0006 - 0012
- 32005L0032
Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
Official Journal L 191 , 22/07/2005 P. 0029 - 0058
- 32005L0064
Directive 2005/64/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2005 on the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to their reusability, recyclability and recoverability and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC
Official Journal L 310 , 25/11/2005 P. 0010 - 0027
- 32006D0061
2006/61/EC: Council Decision of 2 December 2005 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the UN-ECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers
Official Journal L 032 , 04/02/2006 P. 0054 - 0055
- 32006D0402
2006/402/EC: Commission Decision of 9 February 2006 establishing the Community Eco-label working plan (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 162 , 14/06/2006 P. 0078 - 0090
- 32006D1005
2006/1005/EC: Council Decision of 18 December 2006 concerning conclusion of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the European Community on the coordination of energy-efficiency labelling programmes for office equipment
Official Journal , 28/12/2006
Official Journal L 381 , 28/12/2006 P. 0024 - 0025
- 32006L0012
Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on waste (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 114 , 27/04/2006 P. 0009 - 0021
- 32006L0021
Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC - Statement by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission
Official Journal L 102 , 11/04/2006 P. 0015 - 0034
- 32006L0066
Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 266 , 26/09/2006 P. 0001 - 0014
- 32006L0117
Council Directive 2006/117/Euratom of 20 November 2006 on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel
Official Journal L 337 , 05/12/2006 P. 0021 - 0032
Official Journal L 200 , 01/08/2007 P. 0254 - 0265
- 32006R0166
Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and amending Council Directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 033 , 04/02/2006 P. 0001 - 0017
- 32006R1013
Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste
Official Journal L 190 , 12/07/2006 P. 0001 - 0098
- 32007D0530
2007/530/Euratom: Commission Decision of 17 July 2007 on establishing the European High Level Group on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 195 , 27/07/2007 P. 0044 - 0046
- 32007R1418
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1418/2007 of 29 November 2007 concerning the export for recovery of certain waste listed in Annex III or IIIA to Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council to certain countries to which the OECD Decision on the control of transboundary movements of wastes does not apply (Text with EEA relevance )
Official Journal L 316 , 04/12/2007 P. 0006 - 0052
- 32008D0312
2008/312/Euratom: Commission Decision of 5 March 2008 establishing the standard document for the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel referred to in Council Directive 2006/117/Euratom (notified under document number C(2008) 793)
Official Journal L 107 , 17/04/2008 P. 0032 - 0059
- 32008D0350
2008/350/EC: Commission Decision of 3 April 2008 on the rules of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland concerning permit exemptions for undertakings and establishments recovering hazardous waste under Article 3 of Council Directive 91/689/EEC (notified under document number C(2008) 1212) (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 117 , 01/05/2008 P. 0030 - 0039
- 32008D0440
2008/440/EC: Commission Decision of 28 November 2007 concerning the WRAP Printing and Writing Paper Scheme notified by the United Kingdom — (registered under document number C 45/05) (notified under document number C(2007) 5421) (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 155 , 13/06/2008 P. 0020 - 0027
- 32008L0001
Directive 2008/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (Codified version) (Text with EEA relevance )
Official Journal L 024 , 29/01/2008 P. 0008 - 0029
- 32008R0106
Regulation (EC) No 106/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on a Community energy-efficiency labelling programme for office equipment (recast version)
Official Journal L 039 , 13/02/2008 P. 0001 - 0007
- 32008A0802(01)
Commission opinion of 1 August 2008 concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the Urenco Capenhurst Ltd uranium enrichment plant in the United Kingdom, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty
Official Journal C 196 , 02/08/2008 P. 0001 - 0001
- 32008R0669
Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2008 of 15 July 2008 on completing Annex IC of Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 188 , 16/07/2008 P. 0007 - 0015
Preparatory acts
- 51999DC0752
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of Community waste legislation Directive 75/442/EEC on waste, Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, Directive 75/439/EEC on waste oils and Directive 86/278/EEC on sewage sludge for the period (1995 - 1997)
- 52000DC0469
Green Paper - Environmental issues of PVC
- 52003DC0250
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of Community waste Legislation Directive 75/442/EEC on waste, Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, Directive 75/439/EEC on waste oils, Directive 86/278/EEC on sewage sludge and Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste - For the period 1998-2000
- 52003DC0301
Communication from the Commission - Towards a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste
- 52003PC0032(02)
Proposal for a Council Directive (Euratom) on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste
- 52004DC0038
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Stimulating Technologies for Sustainable Development: An Environmental Technologies Action Plan for the European Union
- 52004PC0526(02)
Amended proposal for a Council Directive (Euratom) on the safe management of the spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 119 (2) of the Euratom Treaty)
- 52005DC0016
Communication from the Commission - Report on the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan in 2004 {SEC(2005)100}
- 52005DC0666
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and Thhe Committee of the Regions - Taking sustainable use of resources forward - A Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste {SEC(2005) 1681} {SEC(2005) 1682}
- 52005DC0670
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of natural resources {SEC(2005) 1683} {SEC(2005) 1684}
- 52005PC0667
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste {SEC(2005) 1681}
- 52006DC0406
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on implementation of the community waste legislation Directive 75/442/EEC on waste, Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, Directive 75/439/EEC on waste oils, Directive 86/278/EEC on sewage sludge, Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste and Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste for the period 2001-2003 {SEC(2006)972}
- 52007DC0059
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the Interpretative Communication on waste and by-products
- 52007DC0162
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Report of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (2005-2006) [SEC(2007) 413]
- 52007DC0269
Green Paper On better ship dismantling {SEC(2007) 645}
- 52007PC0863
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 251 (2) of the EC Treaty concerning the common position of the Council on the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste (the Waste Framework Directive)
- 52008AG0004
Common Position (EC) No 4/2008 of 20 December 2007 adopted by the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste and repealing certain Directives
Official Journal C 071 E , 18/03/2008 P. 0016 - 0046
- 52008DC0355
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on statistics compiled pursuant to the Regulation (EC) 2150/2002 on waste statistics and their quality
- 52008DC0501
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - Second report on the results of the pilot studies referred to in Article 4(3) and Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics
- 52008DC0542
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - Sixth situation report on radioactive waste and spent fuel management in the European Union SEC(2008)2416
- 52008PC0211
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on amending Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators as regards Article 6(2) on placing batteries and accumulators on the market
- 52008PC0462
Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the treatment of waste containing persistent organic pollutants in thermal and metallurgical production processes
Other acts
- 62002O0235
Order of the Court (Third Chamber) of 15 January 2004.
Criminal proceedings against Marco Antonio Saetti and Andrea Frediani.
Reference for a preliminary ruling: Tribunale di Gela - Italy.
Article 104(3) of the Rules of Procedure - Directives 75/442/EEC and 91/156/EEC - Waste management - Definition of waste - Petroleum coke.
Case C-235/02.
European Court reports 2004 Page I-01005
- 62005C0195
Opinion of Mr Advocate General Mazák delivered on 22 March 2007.
Commission of the European Communities v Italian Republic.
Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Environment - Directives 75/442/EEC and 91/156/EEC - Concept of waste - Food scraps from the agro-food industry intended for the production of animal feed - Leftovers from the preparation of food in kitchens, intended for shelters for pet animals.
Case C-195/05.
European Court reports 2007 Page I-11699
- 62005O0026
Order of the Court (Third Chamber) of 16 February 2006.
Plato Plastik Robert Frank GmbH v Caropack Handelsgesellschaft mbH.
Reference for a preliminary ruling: Landesgericht Korneuburg - Austria.
Second paragraph of Article 104(3) of the Rules of Procedure - Directive 94/62/EC - Packaging and packaging waste - Concepts of producer of packaging and producer of packaging materials - producer of plastic carrier bags.
Case C-26/05.
European Court reports 2006 Page I-00024*
- 62006C0221
Opinion of Advocate General Sharpston delivered on 21 June 2007.
Stadtgemeinde Frohnleiten and Gemeindebetriebe Frohnleiten GmbH v Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft.
Reference for a preliminary ruling: Verwaltungsgerichtshof - Austria.
Reference for a preliminary ruling - Levy on the long-term depositing of waste at a waste disposal site - Levy payable by the operator of the waste disposal site and calculated according to the weight of the waste being deposited and the state of the waste disposal site - Exemption from the levy in respect of the deposit of waste from contaminated sites in Austria - No exemption for the deposit of waste from contaminated sites located in other Member States - Article 90 EC - Internal taxation - Discrimination.
Case C-221/06.
European Court reports 2007 Page I-09643
- 62006J0442
Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 10 April 2008.
Commission of the European Communities v Italian Republic.
Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Directive 1999/31/EC - Landfill of waste - National legislation concerning existing landfill sites - Incorrect transposition.
Case C-442/06.
European Court reports 2008 Page 00000
- 62007C0251
Opinion of Advocate General Kokott delivered on 22 May 2008.
Gävle Kraftvärme AB v Länsstyrelsen i Gävleborgs län.
Reference for a preliminary ruling: Högsta domstolen - Sweden.
Environment - Directive 2000/76/EC - Incineration of waste - Classification of an installation for the production of heat and electricity - Concepts of incineration plant and co-incineration plant.
Case C-251/07.
European Court reports 2008 Page 00000
- 62007J0188
Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 24 June 2008.
Commune de Mesquer v Total France SA and Total International Ltd.
Reference for a preliminary ruling: Cour de cassation - France.
Directive 75/442/EEC - Waste management - Concept of waste - ‘Polluter pays’ principle - Holder - Previous holders - Producer of the product from which the waste came - Hydrocarbons and heavy fuel oil - Shipwreck - International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage - International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.
Case C-188/07.
European Court reports 2008 Page 00000
- 62007J0251
Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 11 September 2008.
Gävle Kraftvärme AB v Länsstyrelsen i Gävleborgs län.
Reference for a preliminary ruling: Högsta domstolen - Sweden.
Environment - Directive 2000/76/EC - Incineration of waste - Classification of an installation for the production of heat and electricity - Concepts of incineration plant and co-incineration plant.
Case C-251/07.
European Court reports 2008 Page 00000
- 92003E1240
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1240/03 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. EU waste strategy.
Official Journal 011 E , 15/01/2004 P. 0167 - 0168
- 92003E1864
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1864/03 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Hazardous waste.
Official Journal 051 E , 26/02/2004 P. 0148 - 0149
- 92003E1965
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1965/03 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Exemptions from permit requirements of the 1975 Waste Directive.
Official Journal 051 E , 26/02/2004 P. 0166 - 0167
- 92003E1967
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1967/03 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Irish Government's waste prevention and waste recovery policies.
Official Journal 051 E , 26/02/2004 P. 0167 - 0168
- 92003E1968
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1968/03 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Treatment of hazardous waste in Ireland.
Official Journal 051 E , 26/02/2004 P. 0168 - 0168
- 92003E2129
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/03 by Karl-Heinz Florenz (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European landfill directive.
Official Journal 051 E , 26/02/2004 P. 0203 - 0204
- C2008/022/14
Case C-176/06 P: Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 29 November 2007 — Stadtwerke Schwäbisch Hall GmbH, Stadtwerke Tübingen GmbH, Stadtwerke Uelzen GmbH v Commission of the European Communities, E.ON Kernkraft GmBH, RWE Power AG, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, Vattenfall Europe Nuclear Energy GmbH, formerly Hamburgische Electricitäts-Werke AG (Appeal — Aid allegedly granted by the German authorities to nuclear power stations — Provisions for closure of power stations and disposal of radioactive waste — Inadmissibility of the action before the Court of First Instance — Absolute bar)
Official Journal C 022 , 26/01/2008 P. 0008 - 0008
- C2008/051/13
Case C-263/05: Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 18 December 2007 — Commission of the European Communities v Italian Republic (Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations — Environment — Directives 75/442/EEC and 91/156/EEC — Concept of waste — Substances or objects intended for disposal or recovery operations — Production residues capable of re-use)
Official Journal C 051 , 23/02/2008 P. 0008 - 0008
- C2008/116/13
Case C-81/07: Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 13 March 2008 — Commission of the European Communities v Hellenic Republic (Failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations — Environment — Directive 2000/59/EC — Waste reception and handling plans for ship-generated waste)
Official Journal C 116 , 09/05/2008 P. 0008 - 0008
- C2008/209/14
Case C-188/07: Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 24 June 2008 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Cour de cassation, France) — Commune de Mesquer v Total France SA, Total International Ltd (Directive 75/442/EEC — Waste management — Concept of waste — Polluter pays principle — Holder — Previous holders — Producer of the product from which the waste came — Hydrocarbons and heavy fuel oil — Shipwreck — International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage — International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund)
Official Journal C 209 , 15/08/2008 P. 0010 - 0011

