When does waste become a material or product again?
A waste material is no longer be defined as waste when it is ‘fully recovered’ and can be used without causing overall adverse impacts to the environment or human health.
Then, it can be used whether, as a ‘secondary’ resource in place of and fulfilling the same role as a non-waste derived, or as a virgin ‘primary’ resource.
On this matter, the European Commission, in the Waste Framework Directive has defined “End-of-waste criteria”, which represent the specific requirements that need to be fulfilled by a material to cease to be regulated as waste.
These criteria will be specific for the defined use(s) of the material, and it ensures that the use of the material will not have overall adverse effects and that it is of sufficient quality to support a sustainable market.
Up until now, End-of-waste criteria have been set at the EU level for glass cullet, and copper, iron, steel, and aluminium scrap.
To obtain the End-of-waste status the product must pass the end-of-waste test, which is made up of four pillars:
- The substance or object is commonly used for specific purposes.
- A market or demand exists for such a substance or object.
- The substance or object fulfils the technical requirements for specific purposes and meets the existing legislation and standards applicable to products.
- The use of the substance or object will not lead to overall adverse environmental or human health impacts.
End-of-waste status creates positive perceptions of recovered materials by removing the waste ‘stigma’ that can deter potential customers. Positive perceptions support the development of sustainable secondary markets for, and confidence in recovered secondary materials. This supports their economic value, allowing industry to further innovate in new products derived from waste and therefore further increasing the beneficial use of waste.
Links:
Access the full guide here:
Help us grow!
If you have any suggestions about these contents, find any error or would like to make us aware of anything, please fill out the form below.
