Top News on Waste and Circular Economy in 2023

2023 has been a fundamental year for waste management in Europe, with relevant changes in waste regulations, circular economy, sustainability... In this article we highlight the most significant publications in the EU in the last year.

The most relevant waste news in 2023

January

• The EU intends to create an EU electronic register for shipments of waste, including hazardous waste. [European Court of Auditors]

• EU approves new corporate reporting standards on sustainability.[TEIMAS]

• Waste shipments: MEPs push for tougher EU rules.[European Parliament]

February

• The European Commission publishes a proposal for a "Green Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Era".[EFE Green]

• EU presents its most ambitious legislative package on packaging and packaging waste.[RETEMA]

March

• Europe takes the lead in sustainable growth: Digital product passports.[SPNEWS]

• European Commission adopts regulation on key raw materials. [European Commission]

• Circular economy: Commission proposes new consumer rights and ban on greenwashing.[European Commission]

• Launch of the IPCC Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report.[By The Climate]

April

• Fit for 55: Parliament approves key laws to reach 2030 climate target.[European Parliament]

May

• EU proposes more restrictive rules for transboundary shipment of waste. [European Council]

• Ecodesign Regulation: the Council adopts its position. [European Council]

June

• Circular Economy: Commission recommends measures to boost recycling in 18 Member States at risk of missing waste targets.[European Commission]

• Commission unveils sustainable financing package to build on and strengthen the foundations of the EU's sustainable financing framework.[TEIMAS]

July

• Council adopts new regulation on used batteries and accumulators. [European Commission]

August

• EU Battery Regulation enters into force.[RETEMA]

September

• European Parliament adopts position on critical raw materials. [European Parliament]

October

• Packaging: new EU rules to reduce, reuse and recycle.[European Parliament]

• Main parliamentary committee approves directive on right to repair. [Professional Waste]

• The European Parliament adopts its proposal for the packaging and packaging waste regulation.[RETEMA]

November

• Waste shipments: Council and Parliament reach agreement on more effective and updated rules. [European Council]

• New EU labeling rules to make batteries last longer and not end up in landfills.[The Conversation]

• Co-legislators agree to ban in the EU the export of plastic waste to developing countries. [European Commission]

• European Parliament supports revised rules to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging. [European Parliament]

December

• New Industrial Emissions Directive increases control over dioxins from incineration. [Professional Waste]

• Commission welcomes interim agreement on more sustainable, repairable and circular products.[European Commission].

• Council and European Parliament reach provisional agreement on the scope of application of the Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence.[TEIMAS]

• Countries agree for the first time to "move away from fossil fuels" at COP28[Climática. La Marea].

• Council adopts its negotiating position on new rules for more sustainable packaging in the EU. [European Council]