European Commission Directives for Waste

Much of our waste policy and guidance is based on European Union (EU) legislation which gives strong direction on waste issues to its member states. The main legal instruments that establish law and policy are called 'directives', and these specify the objectives that the EU seeks to achieve on particular issues. Member states are then required to translate directives into national policy, and implement their requirements within prescribed timescales.

This was the original framework directive on waste, which is been amended by 91/156/EEC and 91/92/EEC. The directive relates to waste disposal and the protection of the environment from harmful effects caused by the collection, transport, treatment, storage and tipping of waste. In particular it aims to encourage the recovery and use of waste in order to conserve natural resources.

Waste is defined as any substance or object which the holder disposes of or is required to dispose of pursuant to the provisions of national law. Certain categories of waste are excluded from the scope of this directive.

The directive requires member states to appoint competent authorities to draw up waste management plans and develop an integrated network of regional facilities. The directive also established the requirements for licences, registration of carriers and the polluter pays principal which are being implemented in Northern Ireland in regulations under the Waste and Contaminated Land Order 1997.

The aim of this directive is to provide for measures, procedures and guidance to prevent or reduce as far a possible the negative effects on the environment from landfilling waste. It also aims to harmonise the controls on landfill throughout the European Union and reduce methane emissions by setting targets for a reduction in the volumes of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill.

The main elements contain a mix of strategic objectives for reducing the amount and nature of waste going to landfill and improving landfill practices.

In terms of environmental protection the directive also contains detailed provisions for the design, operation, restoration, aftercare and monitoring of landfill sites. The requirements will apply immediately to all new landfills but existing sites will also have to be brought up to the higher standards, or will have to close. All current licences will need to be reviewed and there will be a transitional period, up to 2009, for bringing existing sites up to the required standard.

This directive harmonises national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste. To this end the directive lays down measures aimed at preventing the production of excess packaging waste, reusing, recycling and other forms of recovering packaging waste.

It establishes percentage targets for the recovery of packaging waste and the essential requirements that all packaging must meet. The directive is partly a response to unilateral national measures such as the German system which are potential barriers to trade in the Single Market. The directive covers all kinds of packaging and packaging waste, whether it is industrial, commercial, office, shop, service or household regardless of the material used.

The directive is implemented in Northern Ireland through the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations (NI) 1999 (as amended).

This directive aims to prevent waste from vehicles and sets out measures for the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of end-of life vehicles and their components which will reduce the disposal of waste and improve the environmental performance of the economic operators involved in the life cycle of vehicles.

This directive contains challenging targets for reuse and recycling of end of life vehicles with progressive targets that will ultimately achieve 85% by weight recycling by 2015. The objectives of the directive are to prevent waste generation, increase recovery of components and to make manufacturers responsible for free vehicle take back. Most significantly the directive introduces permitting for scrap dealers and breakers so that the disassembly of vehicles is regulated.