Plastic waste shipments

Overview

Over the last decade, the rapid rise of uncontrolled plastic waste trade has severely damaged both public health and global ecosystems.

To combat this crisis, the EU has systematically tightened its legal framework to take full responsibility for its own waste and prevent environmental exploitation abroad.

In 2020, the EU legally adopted internationally agreed changes into its own Waste Shipment Regulation. This update introduced strict entry codes to track and monitor waste based on its safety profile and destination.

Most recently, the EU drastically escalated these protections under the updated Waste Shipment Regulation. This latest law enforces mandatory tracking for complex or hazardous waste and introduces a historic, comprehensive ban on all plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries, set to take full effect later this year.

The EU framework on plastic waste shipments strictly regulates the transboundary movement, export, and import of plastic waste to ensure Europe takes full responsibility for its waste and prevents environmental harm abroad.

Governed primarily by the revised Waste Shipment Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1157) — which incorporates and expands upon global plastic waste amendments under the Basel Convention — the framework establishes strict controls based on waste classification and destination.

It sets mandatory tracking for hazardous or hard-to-recycle waste, enforces streamlined rules for clean intra-EU recycling, and introduces a comprehensive ban on exporting plastic waste to non-OECD countries.

Why do we have these rules?

The rules were introduced to end the unsustainable practice of "offshoring" plastic waste to third countries that lack the capacity and infrastructure to manage it sustainably.

For decades, millions of tonnes of European plastic waste were shipped abroad, often ending up in illegal dumpsites, open fires, or marine ecosystems in developing nations. Furthermore, uncontrolled exports starved Europe’s domestic recycling sector of secondary raw materials.

The framework ensures that plastic waste is managed in an environmentally sound manner, combats illegal waste trafficking, and incentivises investments in domestic EU recycling capacity.

Alignment with other EU policies

Rules on plastic waste shipments function as the trade and logistics enforcement arm of the EU’s broader waste architecture. They operate in close conjunction with the Waste Framework Directive (which governs waste treatment hierarchies), the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

Strategic basis

At the strategic level, tightening waste shipment controls is a flagship priority under the European Green Deal, the EU Plastics Strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

By keeping recyclable plastic within the internal market, the framework supports the Zero Pollution Action Plan and directly advances EU strategic autonomy in secondary raw materials.

Internationally, it reinforces the EU's commitments under the Basel Convention and its leadership in negotiating a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty.

Legislation: Waste Shipments Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 & Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2174 (transposing Basel Convention plastic waste classifications into EU rules)

Status: In force since 20 May 2024

Application date: 21 May 2026

Other key date: 21 November 2026 - Ban on all plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries

Objectives and aims

The rules below aim to end plastic waste exports to third countries lacking the capacity and standards to manage it sustainably, while enforcing strict controls where transboundary shipments are still permitted.

How do plastic waste shipment rules work?

Different procedures apply depending on the type and destination of plastic waste (intra-EU, OECD, or non-OECD).

The Waste Shipment Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 introduces new rules for waste exports outside the EU. It also contains specific rules for plastic waste exports, depending on the type and destination.

See summary tables on procedures for plastic waste imports and exports, and within the EU.

Exports from the EU

Exporting plastic waste, including clean, non-hazardous waste (which is destined for recycling) (B3011), will be subject to the 'prior notification and consent procedure'. This requirement applies from 21 May 2026.

Exporters of plastic waste, similarly as in the case of other waste, have to demonstrate that the waste exported is properly managed in the facility located in the recipient country to which it is shipped.

Therefore, they must ensure that independent audits are carried out on such facilities to demonstrate that these facilities manage waste in an environmentally sound manner. This requirement will apply from 21 May 2027.

Specific rules for non-OECD countries

From 21 November 2026, a complete ban on such exports will apply, at least until 21 May 2029.

After this period, non-OECD countries interested in importing plastic waste must notify the European Commission and demonstrate their capacity to manage such waste in an environmentally sound manner if they wish to be included in the list of non-OECD countries to which plastic waste may be exported from the EU.

The request to import EU plastic waste can only cover non-hazardous plastic waste (B3011).

Specific rules for OECD countries

The Commission will monitor exports of waste to such countries, paying particular attention to plastic waste. If concerns exist that exports are increasing and likely to cause environmental damage in a given destination country, the Commission will engage in dialogue with this country.

Ultimately, such exports will be suspended if the waste is not managed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The Commission is also tasked with assessing countries that import significant volumes of EU plastic waste to ensure they manage it in an environmentally sound manner.

This evaluation will verify that these exports do not significantly damage local environments or human health, while also ensuring that OECD countries do not re-export EU plastic waste to third countries. An assessment is scheduled for publication soon.

Imports into the EU

Importing hazardous plastic waste (A3210/AC300) and plastic waste that is hard to recycle (Y48) into the EU from third countries is subject to the 'prior notification and consent procedure'. Under this procedure, both the importing and exporting countries must authorise the shipment.

Intra-EU shipments

The 'prior notification and consent procedure' also applies to intra-EU shipments of hazardous plastic waste (AC300), and of non-hazardous plastic waste (that is difficult to recycle) (EU48).
All intra-EU shipments of non-hazardous plastic waste for recovery (EU3011) are exempt from these new controls. For such waste shipments, general information requirements apply.

The new entries EU3011 and EU48 for non-hazardous plastic waste are largely modelled on the entries agreed in the Basel Convention, but with some differences.

Contact

For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.