EU carbon rules / Regulations / Waste Framework Directive
Waste hierarchy, reuse and recycling targets, producer responsibility (as amended by 2018/851 and 2025/1892; the latter adds textile/footwear EPR and food waste reduction targets)
This regulation applies to:
Amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851; most recently amended by Directive (EU) 2025/1892 (in force from 2025-10-16), which introduced an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles and footwear and set binding food waste reduction targets.
The following provisions define its scope:
Article 1 — Subject matter and scope
This Directive lays down measures to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of such use.
Article 2 — Exclusions from the scope
1. The following shall be excluded from the scope of this Directive: (a) gaseous effluents emitted into the atmosphere; (b) land (in situ) including unexcavated contaminated soil and buildings permanently connected with land; (c) uncontaminated soil and other naturally occurring material excavated in the course of construction activities where it is certain that the material will be used for the purposes of construction in its natural state on the site from which it was excavated; (d) radioactive waste; (e) decommissioned explosives; (f) faecal matter, if not covered by paragraph 2(b), straw and other natural non-hazardous agricultural or forestry material used in farming, forestry or for the production of energy from such biomass through processes or methods which do not harm the environment or endanger human health. 2. The following shall be excluded from the scope of this Directive to the extent that they are covered by other Community legislation: (a) waste waters; (b) animal by-products including processed products covered by Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, except those which are destined for incineration, landfilling or use in a biogas or composting plant; (c) carcasses of animals that have died other than by being slaughtered, including animals killed to eradicate epizootic diseases, and that are disposed of in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002; (d) waste resulting from prospecting, extraction, treatment and storage of mineral resources and the working of quarries covered by Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries (23). 3. Without prejudice to obligations under other relevant Community legislation, sediments relocated inside surface waters for the purpose of managing waters and waterways or of preventing floods or mitigating the effects of floods and droughts or land reclamation shall be excluded from the scope of this Directive if it is proved that the sediments are non-hazardous. 4. Specific rules for particular instances, or supplementing those of this Directive, on the management of particular categories of waste, may be laid down by means of individual Directives.
| Duty | Trigger | Evidence | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apply the waste hierarchy, prioritising prevention, reuse and recycling Waste prevention and management legislation must follow the priority order of prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling, other recovery and disposal. | Generating or managing waste | Waste management plans, disposal and recovery records | Ongoing |
| Meet reuse and recycling targets Household waste and construction and demolition waste must meet the prescribed reuse and recycling rates. | Management of household waste and construction and demolition waste | Recycling rate statistics and reports | Phased from 2020 |
| Meet producer responsibility (EPR) Within the scope of extended producer responsibility, organisational and cost obligations for take-back and disposal apply. | Product falls within the scope of extended producer responsibility | EPR registration, records of fulfilment of take-back obligations | According to Member State transposition rules |
Article 1 — subject matter and scope
This Directive lays down measures to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of such use.
Article 4(1) — waste hierarchy
The following waste hierarchy shall apply as a priority order in waste prevention and management legislation and policy: (a) prevention; (b) preparing for re-use; (c) recycling; (d) other recovery, e.g. energy recovery; and (e) disposal.
Article 11(2) — re-use and recycling targets
Member States shall take the necessary measures designed to achieve the following targets: (a) by 2020, the preparing for re-use and the recycling of waste materials such as at least paper, metal, plastic and glass from households ... shall be increased to a minimum of overall 50 % by weight; (b) by 2020, the preparing for re-use, recycling and other material recovery ... of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste ... shall be increased to a minimum of 70 % by weight.