As part of a memorandum setting out its priorities for the next five years, FEAD said that the European Commission should consider expanding the role played by IMPEL – the EU network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environment Law – in ensuring waste shipment regulations are adhered to.
Highlighting the waste sector's investment in treating waste according to EU regulations, the 'Priorities of the European waste management industry' memorandum stated that: “Bypassing of these high treatment standards, through unlawful transport and dumping of waste outside the EU, must be stopped.
“FEAD seeks vigorous efforts to identify, investigate and prevent unlawful transfrontier movement of waste,” it added.
To address the issue, FEAD also proposed a Directive on environment inspections be introduced, to ensure a more harmonised and effective implementation of EU environmental regulation.
The memorandum also addresses a number of other areas of waste policy, including the implementation of the revised Waste Framework Directive and work towards a new Industrial Emissions Directive.
Among the other priorities it highlights are:
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The rapid definition of “harmonised” end-of-waste criteria;
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Avoiding widespread revision of the European List of Wastes, instead focussing on correcting certain entries;
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Support for a bio-waste Directive, in the wake of the EU green paper on biodegradable waste that was published last year (see letsrecycle.com story);
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Implementing the Waste Incineration Directive (WID) into the new Industrial Emissions Directive “without substantial modification”, due to the WID being “a success”;
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Ensuring the Commission and other EU bodies provide “clear and viable” guidance on how the new chemicals Directive, REACH, will be applied to the recycling industry;
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Making sure there is fair competition for contracts between public and private bodies, including addressing issues in some EU member states relating to public entities not needing to pay VAT and ensuring transparency in the tendering process for deals.
FEAD's members include the UK's Environmental Services Association.
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