Waste Trade

The European Union is shipping a large amount of its waste across the world, generating negative environmental, social and economic impacts for receiving communities. That’s why we are calling for more stringent regulations on waste shipment outside of the European Union.

Mixed waste has, for many years, been shipped from countries in the Global North to the Global South for treatment. However, what has recently become clear is that this trade has severe consequences for people and the planet. 

With increasingly lackluster waste sorting coming from the Global North, it is no longer economically feasible for countries in the Global South to tackle this waste disposal & management. Moreover, such practices are at odds with the European’s circular economy principles. As a result, we are calling for Europe’s waste to stay in Europe on the basis of the proximity principle. 

Zero Waste Europe will work to highlight the injustices of the waste trade, while promoting real solutions to waste management at the city level, through increased traceability, a shift to a circular economy, zero waste societies and waste prevention across Europe in general.