Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of Directive 2006/21/EC on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC

Waste originating from quarrying and mining industries makes up a very large proportion of the total volume of waste produced in the European Union (approximately 30% in 2012). The mismanagement of such waste can have detrimental effects on human health and the environment and can lead to serious accidents.

Directive 2006/21/EC on the management of waste from extractive industries aims to prevent or reduce as far as possible any adverse effects on the environment, in particular on water, air, soil, fauna and flora and the landscape, and any resultant risks to human health, brought about as a result of the management of waste from the extractive industries. The Directive covers the management of waste resulting directly from prospecting, extraction, treatment and storage of mineral resources and from quarrying.

Pursuant to Article 18(1) of the Directive, Member States are required to provide the Commission with a report on the implementation of the Directive every three years, drawn up on the basis of a questionnaire. Article 18(1) also requires the Commission to publish a report on the implementation of the Directive on the basis of the reports submitted by Member States. This report covers the two first reporting periods, from 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2011 and from 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2014.