European Union Waste Framework Directive

European Union Waste Framework Directive, 75/442/EEC and Amendment 91/155/EEC. 

ECHA points out that some materials currently considered as waste might in future be considered to have ceased to be waste [15]. These materials will then be out of the scope of waste legislation, and - if not covered by an exemption - will potentially fall under REACH. Clarification of end-of-waste criteria is a matter for waste legislation. In accordance with the general principle of subsidiarity of the European Union law, and following the revised Waste Framework Directive, Member States may decide case by case whether certain waste has ceased to be waste, where end-of-waste criteria have not been set at Community level. Member States have already worked for use of this regulation, like, e.g., the Waste Quality Protocol in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland [16]. 

At the same time, more realistic targets were set for the recovery and recycling of polymer based packaging wastes in the European Union. The Waste Framework Directive put forward by the EU in March 1991 defines recovery as... 

Dealing with waste is one of the important hot-button societal issues of any country, where waste prevention including the capability of reusability has highest priority in the waste hierarchy defined by the waste framework directive (European Union, 2008). Reuse option stands as the second highest priority, next to waste prevention in the order of hierarchy. When we talk about reuse, at times the material under question might need preparation for being reused, which is also included in the reuse option that is discussed here. 

The terms are covered in Article 3 of the Framework Waste Directive which states that member states of the European Union shall take appropriate measures to encourage the prevention or reduction of waste production and its harmfulness. With reference to industry, actions which will not necessarily lead to waste prevention but reductions in product and/or packaging which lead to reductions in waste generated are to be encouraged. 

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