Waste agency
Study on the feasibility of the establishment of a Waste Implementation Agency (2008-2009)
Client: European Commission / DG Environment
The generation, management and transport of waste are among the most serious environmental challenges that the European Union faces today. Each year the EU generates 1.3 billion tonnes of waste – some 40 million tonnes of it being hazardous. Although the EU has put in place a comprehensive set of legislation for waste management, shortcomings are seen in the application and enforcement of its requirements. Overall, the quality of implementation varies greatly across the EU. Waste is one of the two areas of EU environmental legislation subject to the highest number of complaints, petitions, parliamentary questions and infringement cases (the other being nature protection legislation).
Milieu (together with partners AmbienDura of Portugal and Ffact of the Netherlands) helped the European Commission explore whether and how a dedicated agency could improve the implementation of EU waste legislation.
The study analysed the different areas in which an agency might work. Examples include: providing analysis of technical issues relevant to the updating of EU waste legislation; organising training for Member State officials; and supporting Member States on enforcement. The study the implications of creating and operating such an agency, including its potential costs and impacts on the implementation of waste legislation. The issues and options were discussed in two informal workshops that brought together stakeholder representatives and Member State officials.
