History and Current Status of EU Hazardous Waste Export Controls

History and Current Status of EU Hazardous Waste Export Controls

### 1990s: The genesis of the regulation
In June 1995, the European Union (EU) adopted a policy of total ban on the export of hazardous waste. This regulation was introduced to address the environmental pollution and health hazards caused by improper disposal, particularly in African (e.g., Nigeria and Liberia) and Asian countries. The wastes covered include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals (lead and mercury), and chlorinated organic compounds.

EU member states such as Germany and France, which had previously tried to reduce costs by outsourcing waste disposal outside their borders, are now obliged to do so within their own borders. As a result, it is estimated that France and Germany will incur additional costs of 5 billion euros and 4 billion euros per year, respectively, with a particularly large impact on small and medium-sized enterprises. On the other hand, the Nordic countries (Sweden and Finland) had already achieved high recycling rates and were considered a model for the entire EU.

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### 2000s: Regulatory developments and international cooperation
In the 2000s, the EU further strengthened its regulations on the international handling of waste with the introduction of the Waste Shipment Regulation in 2006, which set strict standards for the transport of waste between OECD countries. In 2008, the Waste Framework Directive was revised, setting a target of at least 50% recycling of municipal waste by 2020.

Furthermore, in response to the rapid increase in electrical and electronic equipment waste (E-Waste), the 2002 "WEEE Directive" (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) was revised in 2008, imposing waste collection and recycling responsibilities on manufacturers. As a result, the recycling rate of e-waste within the EU has increased, and some progress has been made in reducing environmental impact.

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### 2010s: Sustainability and the transition to a circular economy
The 2010s marked the EU's transition to a Circular Economy, a period in which the EU further strengthened waste regulations and promoted sustainable resource use. The package includes policies to reduce waste, increase recycling rates, and promote the use of energy from waste. The package set targets of 60% recycling for municipal waste and 75% for packaging waste by 2030.

The issue of plastic waste was also a major focus, and the EU Plastics Strategy was adopted in 2018. This strategy set goals to ban disposable plastic products (straws, cutlery, etc.) by 2021 and to make all plastic packaging recyclable by 2030.

Meanwhile, waste exports to China surged in the EU in the 2010s. However, in 2018, China enacted the National Solid Waste Ban Decree, banning the import of many wastes, forcing EU member countries to either change export destinations or strengthen their own domestic treatment systems. This policy shift led to an increase in waste exports to Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Thailand, which also gradually tightened import restrictions.

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### 2020s: Increasing Regulations and New Challenges
In the 2020s, EU waste exports continued to grow, reaching approximately 32.7 million tons (equivalent to 13 billion euros) in 2020. In response to this situation, in 2021, a draft amendment to the "Waste Transport Regulation" was announced, which further strengthened export regulations, including a ban on plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries.

In 2023, the "Critical Raw Materials Law" was enacted to promote recycling of critical resources such as rare earth elements and lithium. As a result, companies such as CareStar of France and Heraeus Lemroy of Germany are focusing on the business of recycling rare earth magnets from electric vehicles and wind turbines.

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The EU has progressively strengthened its regulations to ensure proper management of hazardous waste and a circular economy, an effort that began with an export ban in 1995 and has continued to evolve through international cooperation in the 2000s, circular economy policies in the 2010s, and innovative legislation in the 2020s. However, cooperation among member countries and the resolution of technical issues will be key in the future.