EU agrees to ban plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries

The EU Parliament and Council reached preliminary agreement to prohibit plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries within two and a half years and tighten controls on all waste shipments. India, named among affected non-OECD recipients, faces direct implications for plastic waste import flows and circular economy planning.

The European Parliament and Council reached preliminary agreement on revising EU procedures and control measures for waste shipments, supporting climate neutrality, a circular economy and zero pollution. The legislation strengthens rules on exporting waste to non-OECD countries including China, India, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey. The Parliament ensured that within two and a half years of the regulation entering force, the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries will be prohibited, with stricter conditions on plastic waste exports to OECD countries.

The legislation directly affects non-OECD recipient countries, including India, and the waste management and recycling sectors. Exports of certain non-hazardous wastes and mixtures for recovery will only be permitted to non-OECD countries that consent and meet criteria for environmentally sound treatment, including compliance with international labour and workers' rights conventions. The Commission will maintain a biennially updated list of eligible recipient countries. Plastic waste exports to OECD countries face prior written notification, consent procedures and closer compliance monitoring.

Indian waste management firms and policymakers should prepare for the prohibition of EU plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries within two and a half years of the regulation taking force. Affected entities should monitor the Commission's recipient-country list, updated at least biennially, and the consent and environmental-soundness criteria. Stakeholders should track the new enforcement group enhancing cooperation against illegal waste shipments, assessing implications for domestic recycling capacity and plastic waste import flows under tightening international rules.

Key figure — Export ban timeline: plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries prohibited within two and a half years