EU policy updates from the re-refining industry
2022 will be a crucial year for the re-refining industry in view of upcoming key policy developments at the European Union level. First of all, it will mark the start of the work on the so-called “impact assessment” on regeneration targets for waste oil under the revision of the Waste Framework Directive. The proposal for the revision is due to be released by the European Commission in the course of 2023.
Over the last months, GEIR has been in contact with the Commission’s Joint Research Centre and DG Environment to provide input on the feasibility to establish such target. Towards the end of the year, GEIR will continue its advocacy work towards the Commission by the time the file is discussed at political level. In addition, the following files are also expected this year: Taxonomy Delegated Act covering circular economy objective in Q1, proposal for revision of Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) in Q2, and the proposal for revision of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation in Q4.
As foreseen by the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, another topic of key importance this year will be the revision of the Waste Shipment Regulation. The proposal to revise the rules on waste shipment has been released on 17 November 2021 and the feedback period, to which GEIR has participated, closed on 17 January. The proposal calls for a more efficient system for the circulation of waste as a resource and stresses the need for determined action against waste trafficking. The document reads that waste exports to non-OECD countries will only be allowed if third countries are keen to receive certain wastes and are able to manage them sustainably.
Waste shipments to OECD countries would be monitored and can be suspended if they generate serious environmental problems in the country of destination. Within the EU, procedures would be considerably simplified to facilitate waste re-entering circular economy cycles.
Finally, the proposal stresses the importance to establish criteria “to distinguish between used goods and waste, for specific commodities for which such distinction is important, especially for their export from the Union.” GEIR welcomes the revision proposal and strongly supports its twofold objective to ensure that the EU does not export its waste challenges to third countries and support a clean and circular economy. Nevertheless, GEIR regrets that the proposal put forward by the Commission is not aligned with the principles of the waste hierarchy as it fails to differentiate between waste oils shipments dedicated for reuse and recycling from shipments dedicated to recovery, which contradicts the principles of waste hierarchy. GEIR will continue to advocate for the interest of the re-refining industry during the upcoming negotiations in the European Parliament and the Council.
LINK
www.geir-rerefining.org
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.167 FEBRUARY 2022
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