November 27, 2024 14:22

The Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Union has published a report titled JRC Technical Proposals for EU-Wide End-of-Waste Criteria for Plastic Waste. The document provides analyses and proposals aimed at harmonizing the “end-of-waste” criteria for plastic waste to meet the goals of the Circular Economy Action Plan.

The report includes key information on plastics, plastic waste, and the recycling value chain. It also details market aspects, technical requirements, applicable regulations, and environmental and human health impacts relevant to developing EU-wide criteria.
Additionally, it analyzes the current situation across member states.

Researchers note that the criteria for achieving end-of-waste status currently vary significantly between countries. This lack of uniformity causes confusion, hampers the circulation of recycled materials, and limits the European market for secondary raw materials.
Harmonizing the criteria would allow recycled materials to move freely within the single market, encourage the reuse of plastics, and increase confidence among operators and consumers.

The JRC study outlines requirements to ensure that recycled plastic waste can be considered a resource. These criteria address various stages of the recycling chain, including material selection, safety at entry—particularly for healthcare and electronic waste—treatment and recycling processes, product quality, and traceability and certification of recycled materials.

See also: JRC Technical Proposals for EU-Wide End-of-Waste Criteria for Plastic Waste

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