The Waste Framework Directive is the EU framework which protects public health and the environment through the proper management of waste, applying the EU waste hierarchy, which promotes the prevention and re-use of waste over recovery and waste disposal.
The Waste Framework Directive is now being revised to improve waste management by reducing waste generation, including through the re-use of products or components, and by reducing mixed waste and increasing waste preparation for re-use or recycling by improving separate collection.
The European Commission officially kicked off the review of the WFD in January 2022, when it opened a call for evidence for an impact assessment. From May to August 2022, the Commission held a 12-week public consultation to gather input from stakeholders. Expected to be more focused than the one conducted in 2018, this review was initially set up to address waste prevention, separate collection, waste oils and textiles, and to incorporate the Commission’s initiative to set EU targets for reduction of food waste.
Based on the latest available information and following several stakeholder consultations organized by the Commission, the scope of the policy initiative for the targeted amendment of the Waste Framework Directive has been further refined to focus on: Policy options to support a more circular and sustainable management of textile waste, in light of the objectives set in the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles.
Assess the feasibility of setting food waste reduction targets to implement the Union’s commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Farm to Fork Strategy and to limit the impact of the food supply chain on the environment and climate.
No further consultation activities will take place for the other sectors, i.e. waste prevention and preparing for re-use and recycling, as these are no longer the focus of the targeted review. However, work is in progress regarding the monitoring of waste prevention, the separate collection of dry recyclable materials and organic waste and the sustainable management of waste oils. The European Commission intends to share the best practices identified in the supporting studies organized in 2021-2022, and is preparing reports. However, it is unclear whether the Commission will still propose measures to strengthen waste management across the EU.
After the 12-week European Commission public consultation for stakeholder feedback on the WFD, the second Stakeholder Workshop on the Impact Assessment Support Study, planned for 13 September 2022 , has been cancelled.
The expected publication of EC proposal for WFD revision is in Q2 2023.