Europes councils to review waste shipment plans

The European Unions Committee of the Regions (CoR) is to review proposed changes to waste shipment laws which were debated by MEPs last week.

The CoR, which is made up of representatives from the continents local authorities, will examine the amendments to the Waste Shipment Regulations (WSR) which are currently being discussed within the EU.

Proposals to amend the WSR were originally published by the Commission in July (see letsrecycle.com story), which included measures to prevent port hopping by illegal exporters, who target Member States with the most lenient controls on waste exports.

The Commission also proposed that inspection authorities should be required to carry out more regular on-the-spot inspections of waste shipments in order to determine if waste is destined for treatment in an environmentally sound manner.

A number of amendments were tabled by MEPs after discussions on the plans in the European Parliament at a session last week, led by rapporteur Bart Staes, who argued that authorities should have the power to inspect cargoes even if there is no suspicion of illegal export.

Intelligence

MEPs also called for improved cooperation and information sharing between Member States, to track the movement of waste and to share knowledge of enforcement policies.

CoRs lead member on waste shipments, councillor Paula Baker of Basingstoke and Deane council will present her draft opinion during the groups next Environmental, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) Commission meeting on December 5.

The points raised at the meeting will be discussed by councillors from across the EU Member States, whose proposals will then be fed back to the European Commission.
According to councillor Baker, improvements to waste shipment regulations will bring financial benefits, bolster the EU’s recycling efforts, reduce environmental and health risks and restrict illegal imports of useful raw material.

The Liberal Democrat councillor for Overton, Laverstoke and Steventon also supports the Commission’s idea to introduce consistent inspections, claiming that some member states had “well-functioning inspection systems” while others lagged behind.

She has also backed the introduction of intelligencebased data, such as police investigations and analysis, of criminal activities to crack down on illegal activities, and considers the exchange of electronic data on waste shipments could make improve the situation.

However, she suggests that the Commission must consult local and regional authorities in the planning and all the information must be accessible to all relevant public authorities.

Finally, she is expected to call on the Commission to introduce a general EU legislative framework on environmental inspections and surveillance that support the role of local and regional authorities in implementing EU environment legislation, to reduce unfair competition due to different or absent inspection regimes, and to ensure equity in legal action.