The significance of the proposed changes to the Waste Framework Directive

Abstract:

On 21 December 2005 the Commission published its Communication on the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste and Proposals for a revised Waste Framework Directive. From the legal point of view the proposed changes must be viewed holistically, the critical issue being whether, as the single, fundamental basis of EU waste legislation, the revised WFD will progress the management of waste and resources within the Community and provide the necessary certainty for the required changes to occur. In this article the author outlines the provisions of the proposed Directive and examines whether the proposed revisions appear to be capable of fully meeting the objectives of the strategy of a realignment of EU waste priorities to give greater emphasis to life-cycle considerations, and to the link between 'waste' and resource use.