Resource Use, Waste & Chemicals

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Our Work

Over recent years, the Institute has built up a significant portfolio of projects related to EU waste legislation and policy, helping us to develop our expertise in this area. Our work includes assessing the effectiveness and coherence of existing waste policy and legislation, analysing the implementation of EU waste legislation by the Member States, and projects to investigate the social and political context of waste generation. We have also made, and continue to make, significant contributions to thinking on the future direction of EU waste policy through a number of projects with the European Commission.

Key work in this area:

Review of the EU Waste Thematic Strategy
We are leading this study to assist the Commission in the review of the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste. The study will provide supporting information and analysis for the review, assessing progress on implementation of the Strategy’s actions, steps taken towards creating a European ‘recycling society’, and the international influence of the EU in the waste arena. The study may recommend additional future measures to achieve the aims of the Strategy. The latest information on the project can be found at: www.eu-smr.eu/tswpr/

Construction and demolition waste in the EU
We are partners in this study which aims to specify requirements resulting from EU waste legislation regarding construction and demolition (C&D) waste by establishing operational definitions of crucial concepts, performing a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the status quo of C&D waste, and establishing a scenario for 2014. The latest information on the project can be found at: www.eu-smr.eu/cdw/

Plastic waste in the EU
IEEP is a partner in this study which aims to gather and analyse available data and information on plastics and plastic waste, current management options, and the related environmental and health risks. The latest information on the project can be found at: www.eu-smr.eu/plasticw/

Implementation of EU waste legislation
This project prepared the background analysis for the official European Commission report on the implementation of seven EC Waste Directives during the period 2004-06. The analysis draws mainly on official government reports and includes a concise summary on the implementation of Directives in every Member State, highlighting areas of deficiency and success. IEEP drafted the relevant reports on the Landfill, Packaging and Packaging Waste, and Sewage Sludge Directives. The reports prepared under the project can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/reporting/report04_06.htm

Coherence of EU waste legislation
We led this major study for DG Environment in 2008 which focused in particular on the coherence of the EU recycling Directives. This included analysing terminology, common issues between the Directives, the scope of the Directives, provisions for review and comitology, and an analysis of overlaps and gaps in the coverage of the Directives.

Practicability and enforceability of the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) recast proposal
We led this project for IMPEL, European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law, drafting a report summarising and analysing information from IMPEL members on the practicability and enforceability issues arising from the proposal for a recast of the WEEE Directive.

Waste shipment inspection requirements
IEEP led this study for DG Environment on the inspection requirements for waste shipments leaving the EU. This involved the preparation of case studies on the situation in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, and the development of recommendations or criteria for inspections.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Waste Legislation & Policy

What do we mean by Green Economy?

What is the Green Economy? What policy actions can contribute to achieving it? And how have EU-funded research projects supported these actions?
The Waste Shipment Regulation – practical and enforceable?

The Waste Shipment Regulation is a major challenge for Member States to implement. IEEP gathered the views and experience of IMPEL members on its practicability and enforceability, to help inform any future legislative development and aid competent authorities to work together to enhance their implementation of the Regulation.
EU waste law: the challenge of better compliance

Waste management in the EU is improving, but implementation by the Member States of EU waste legislation remains patchy. This paper makes suggestions on how better compliance could be achieved.
Review of the Waste Thematic Strategy

This report supported the European Commission’s review of the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste. It summarises available data on waste management in the EU, assesses progress towards the EU becoming a ‘recycling society’, outlines the achievements of the Waste Thematic Strategy, and makes recommendations for the development of future EU waste policies.
Improving Enforcement of Waste Shipment Controls

Should there be more explicit obligations for inspections of waste shipments in EU law? The Commission has launched a consultation drawing on IEEP’s work.
Study on Inspection Requirements for Waste Shipments

A report written by IEEP, Bio and Ecologic has examined the challenge of inspection procedures and capacity to implement the EU Waste Shipment Regulation. It notes significant problems in Member States as well as good practice. It concludes with criteria that could be used to form the basis for assessment and enhancement of the capacity of inspectorates.
MEPs and Environment Ministers Discuss Waste and Natural Resource Use

EU Policy Briefing
Analysis of an Amendment to Article 14 in the Council Common Position for adopting a Directive on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators and Repealing 91/157/EEC.

This briefing provided additional information to the European Parliament Environment Committee to assist it with the decision as to whether a proposed ban on portable batteries with a lead content over ...
EFIEA Workshop on Improving Waste Policy Through Integrated Environmental Assessment, 6 to 7 December 2004 Scotland House, Brussels: Workshop Proceedings (Jan 2005)

The advancement of EU waste policy is one of the highest priorities on the EU environmental agenda. The development of a Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste is one of ...
Packaging for Sustainability: Packaging in the Context of the Product, Supply Chain and Consumer Needs, A report for INCPEN

The European Commission is taking a closer look at the Packaging Directive, ten years after its adoption, and has to present a report to the European Parliament in June 2005. To inform ...
EP Briefing Note on ECJ cases C 458/00 and C 228/00 regarding the recovery/disposal of waste

An analysis and interpretation in a written briefing-form of the ECJ rulings versus Luxembourg (C-458/00) and Germany (C-228/00)regarding the recovery/disposal of waste:A trend towards more ...
Applying Integrated Environmental Assessment to EU Waste Policy: A Scoping Paper for the European Forum on Integrated Environmental Assessment (EFIEA)

The purpose of the paper is to identify in what ways integrated environmental assessment (IEA) might be usefully applied to inform the future development of waste policy. In so doing it ...
The Implications of UK Implementation of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive

The EU’s End-of-Life Vehicle Directive (2000/53/EC) came into force on 21 October 2000, with a view to improving the waste management of scrapped cars (or ‘end of life vehicles’ – ...
IEEP Briefing on Current Issues regarding Disposal of Refrigerators

Briefing Note on current issues regarding the disposal of refrigerators.
Industrial Regulation and Sustainable Development: A Report for the National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection (NSCA)

This report is produced for the NCSA's Commission on Industrial Regulation and Sustainable Development. The objective of this report is to describe the existing regulatory regimes and other ...

Highlights

Review of the Waste Thematic Strategy

This report supported the European Commission’s review of the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste. It summarises available data on waste management in the EU, assesses progress towards the EU becoming a ‘recycling society’, outlines the achievements of the Waste Thematic Strategy, and makes recommendations for the development of future EU waste policies.