European Union wants to make it more difficult to export garbage to poorer countries

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A landfill in Pakistan: the EU exported around 33 million tonnes of waste last year (symbol image)

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Ahmad Kamal / dpa

The European Commission wants to make it more difficult to export waste from EU member states to poorer countries. "The aim is for the EU to take on greater responsibility for the waste it produces," said EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius in Brussels. "That has not been the case so far and that has to change." Last year the EU exported around 33 million tonnes of waste. About half of it ended up in poorer countries with low environmental regulations.

According to the proposal, countries that do not belong to the industrialized nations organization OECD will have to prove that they are disposing of the waste in an environmentally friendly manner.

Only then can EU countries ship their waste there.

Waste transport is to be simplified and digitized within the EU.

The Brussels authority also wants to take tougher action against illegal waste deliveries, for example through a specially set up surveillance unit and stricter penalties.

The initiative, which has to be approved by EU countries and the European Parliament, is part of the Brussels fight against pollution.

Materials like plastic, textiles and metals should be reused and recycled instead of being thrown away.

"Just think of all the plastic garbage that comes with poor waste management," Sinkevicius said.

Split reactions

The Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) welcomed the proposal.

"It is right and necessary to restrict the export of plastic waste in particular," said VKU Vice President Patrick Hasenkamp.

In Germany and the EU, waste can be recovered well through better recycling processes.

The Association of German Metal Traders, on the other hand, criticized the fact that the law does not differentiate between types of waste.

This could make the export of recycled metal more difficult, said the deputy chairman Kilian Schwaiger.

The EU Commission is also proposing regulations to curb the import of raw materials for which forests are being destroyed.

Binding conditions are planned for companies that place certain goods on the EU market - namely soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee as well as some secondary products such as leather, chocolate and furniture.

The legislative proposals will now be presented to the European Parliament and the EU member states.

You can still make changes before they are adopted - but this could take several years.

hba / Reuters / dpa