Resource Use, Waste & Chemicals

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Our Work

IEEP has been increasing its work on resource use, in parallel to the stronger focus in EU policies on minimising natural resource use and maximising resource efficiency. The Institute is a partner in a major framework contract for DG Environment on the Sustainable Management of Resources, which has so far given rise to projects on natural resources (reviewing the Natural Resources Thematic Strategy, analysing key contributions to resource efficiency, and on waste and on sustainable consumption and production.

Over recent years IEEP has greatly increased its portfolio of projects on natural resources and waste, contributing to the development and assessment of EU waste legislation and policy, undertaking research into natural resource use, and tracking and advising on the development of chemicals policies. Our work on natural resources and waste is predominantly carried out by members of the Industry, Waste and Water Programme.

At an early stage, the EU recognised waste as a key environmental challenge. The first Waste Framework Directive was adopted in 1975 and sought to create a coherent set of measures applicable in all Member States. Since then, legislation has expanded to cover various areas of waste management (hazardous waste, shipment of waste, landfill of waste, incineration and waste statistics) and a wide range of specific waste streams (mining waste, ship generated waste, sewage sludge, PCBs, packaging waste, batteries and accumulators, end-of-life vehicles (ELV), waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and hazardous substances in electrical/electronic equipment (ROHS).

Projects related to this waste legislation and wider policy form the core of IEEP’s work on waste. Recent projects include the analysis of existing EU legislation and policy and significant contributions to the development of future waste policy.

European policies explicitly addressing waste are complemented by parallel efforts to minimise natural resource use, promote eco-design principles, encourage more sustainable consumption and production and move towards a full ‘life cycle’ approach to resource and product use. Rather than merely dealing with waste once it is generated, such policies are an ongoing attempt to use resources more efficiently from the outset. IEEP’s recent work in this area includes contributing to a major review of the EU’s Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.

IEEP’s work on the regulation of chemicals mainly focuses on the implementation of REACH (the EU Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) both within Member States as well as on a European level.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Resource Use, Waste & Chemicals

Benefit Assessment Manual for Policy Makers: Assessment of Social and Economic Benefits of Enhanced Environmental Protection in the ENPI countries

This benefit Assessment Manual, originally for internal use, has been turned into a Benefit Assessment Manual for policy makers and experts for wider dissemination and provides an understanding of the methodologies applied for the country benefit assessments.
Analysis for European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Countries and the Russian Federation on social and economic benefits of enhanced environmental protection – Egypt Country Report

There are considerable benefits from taking immediate action to address the environmental problems facing Egypt, including in the area of air pollution, water quality and infrastructures and waste management, and safeguarding its natural heritage.
Regional Synthesis Report: ENPI South - Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory, Syria and Tunisia

Investing in improving environmental standards in the ENPI South countries would offer huge benefits in terms of cost savings, improved security (food, water, energy and climate), and improved quality of life.
Review of the Waste Thematic Strategy

This report supported the European Commission’s review of the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste. It summarises available data on waste management in the EU, assesses progress towards the EU becoming a ‘recycling society’, outlines the achievements of the Waste Thematic Strategy, and makes recommendations for the development of future EU waste policies.
EFIEA Workshop on Improving Waste Policy Through Integrated Environmental Assessment, 6 to 7 December 2004 Scotland House, Brussels: Workshop Proceedings (Jan 2005)

The advancement of EU waste policy is one of the highest priorities on the EU environmental agenda. The development of a Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste is one of ...
Packaging for Sustainability: Packaging in the Context of the Product, Supply Chain and Consumer Needs, A report for INCPEN

The European Commission is taking a closer look at the Packaging Directive, ten years after its adoption, and has to present a report to the European Parliament in June 2005. To inform ...
EP Briefing Note on ECJ cases C 458/00 and C 228/00 regarding the recovery/disposal of waste

An analysis and interpretation in a written briefing-form of the ECJ rulings versus Luxembourg (C-458/00) and Germany (C-228/00)regarding the recovery/disposal of waste:A trend towards more ...
The Implications of UK Implementation of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive

The EU’s End-of-Life Vehicle Directive (2000/53/EC) came into force on 21 October 2000, with a view to improving the waste management of scrapped cars (or ‘end of life vehicles’ – ...
IEEP Briefing on Current Issues regarding Disposal of Refrigerators

Briefing Note on current issues regarding the disposal of refrigerators.

Highlights

Review of the Waste Thematic Strategy

This report supported the European Commission’s review of the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste. It summarises available data on waste management in the EU, assesses progress towards the EU becoming a ‘recycling society’, outlines the achievements of the Waste Thematic Strategy, and makes recommendations for the development of future EU waste policies.