The new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) was adopted in March 2020. It is one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal focusing on EU businesses and consumers to make the transition to a stronger and more circular economy where resources are used in a more sustainable way. CEAP is targeting how products are designed, promotes circular economy processes, encourages sustainable consumption, and aims to ensure that waste is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU economy for as long as possible. Within this framework, the EU will assess and revise rules applicable to waste management.
What is EPMF’s position?
CEAP is extremely relevant for the precious metals sector.The revision of the rules on waste shipments will enhance chemicals and products with the objectives to enable recycling and improving the uptake of secondary raw materials and to substitute substances of concern, or where that is not possible, reduce their presence and improve their tracking. The main challenge for the precious metals industry is insufficient information about substances of concern in products and waste, their presence in recycled products and difficulties in applying EU waste classification methodologies. In order to move towards a more circular economy, these are EPMF recommendations for the revision of the Waste Shipment Regulation:
- Reduce the administrative burden by switching to a harmonized electronic system.
- Fast track procedures for pre-consented facilities of waste shipments.
- A harmonized EU approach dealing with waste classification, procedures and enforcement.
- A general tacit consent by all EU Member States for the transit of waste for recycling via EU ports without any discharge.
- Any upcoming regulation should secure a level playing field to avoid low-quality waste stream imports of precious metals, increasing the burden on EU recyclers and refineries.
See also:
- Read more about substances of concern here.
- Video: What are the barriers of refining and recycling of precious metals and how to address them?
Contact information:
Zinaida Nazarenko
Circular Economy Action Plan is a key element of the EPMF Sustainability Platform