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. “That has not yet been the case and that has to change.” The EU exported around 33 million tonnes of waste last year. 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. 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.
Sustainability – EU wants to make waste export more difficult – Economy
