A European Commission study, published on 1 February, recommends setting up a dedicated European body to oversee the implementation and enforcement of EU waste law. The study is part of a series of steps being taken by the Commission to improve waste management and ensure it meets the standards set by EU legislation to protect citizens and the environment. Illegal dumping of waste continues on a significant scale, many landfill sites are sub standard and in some Member States basic waste infrastructure is still missing. Illegal waste shipments are also a concern. A second report reveals that almost one fifth of waste shipments inspected as part of recent enforcement actions in Member States were illegal.

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "Compliance with EU legislation is essential if we are to achieve the overarching goal of EU waste legislation, which is to protect the health of European citizens and the environment. We must look at all the options, including setting up an EU agency or body which could enable EU legislation to deliver the maximum benefits for citizens, the environment and the EU economy."

Study recommends dedicated agency to enforce waste law

The agency would carry out a number of tasks such as reviews of enforcement systems in Member States, coordinated controls and inspection activities. This would be combined with the creation of a specific European body responsible for direct inspections and controls of facilities and sites in serious cases of non-compliance. A European network of Member States would support the agency in a number of activities.

According to the Commission, the annual cost for carrying out the recommendations is estimated at just over €16 million. In addition to other waste-related benefits, full implementation of EU waste law would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including methane from landfills, equivalent to almost 200 million tonnes of CO2 a year. This would save €2.5 billion annually at today's carbon price of around €13 per tonne. Other significant economic benefits from strengthening implementation include a level playing field for European companies, better opportunities for innovation and increased access to valuable secondary raw materials. An in-depth cost-benefit analysis will be carried out this year. Further steps may be proposed during 2011.

Further details can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/index.htm