The European Union has comprehensively overhauled its rules on cross-border waste shipments. The Waste Shipment Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 changes how EU-origin plastic waste shipments are planned. This article summarises the main changes and their practical meaning for buyers in Türkiye.
Why a new regulation?
The previous regulation, in force since 2006, no longer matched the volume and direction of today's waste trade. The EU's goals fall under three headings: make it easier to keep waste in the circular economy within the EU, stop exporting the problem to other countries, and strengthen the fight against illegal shipments.
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | The regulation entered into force. |
| 21 May 2026 | Most provisions began to apply; electronic document exchange became mandatory. |
| November 2026 | The ban on plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries starts. |
| May 2027 | Exports of other waste outside the OECD are allowed only to countries on the EU's approved list. |
Key changes for plastic waste
Ban on plastic waste exports outside the OECD
Exports of plastic waste from the EU to countries that are not OECD members are banned. Part of the flows that used to go to some Asian destinations is expected to shift towards OECD countries and within the EU.
Stricter control for OECD destinations
Plastic waste exports to OECD members (including Türkiye) continue, but they are monitored more strictly through the prior notification and consent procedure. That means obtaining approval from the authorities of the country of dispatch, transit countries and the country of destination before shipping, which adds lead time to planning.
Mandatory digital documents
Notifications, Annex information and other documents are exchanged through a central electronic system at EU level. Paper errors give way to data inconsistencies; wrong information in one field can stop a shipment in the system.
Stronger enforcement
Member states' inspection capacity and penalties against illegal shipments are strengthened. Shipments with false declarations or missing documents are more likely to be caught.
How it relates to the Basel Convention
EU rules should be read together with the Basel Convention plastic waste amendments in force since 2021, which introduced:
- B3011: clean plastic waste almost exclusively of one polymer, destined for environmentally sound recycling.
- Y48: mixed or contaminated non-hazardous plastic waste, subject to prior informed consent.
- A3210: plastic waste with hazardous characteristics.
Which group a material falls into determines the procedure that applies, which shows that bale quality is critical not only commercially but also legally.
Practical consequences for buyers in Türkiye
- Earlier planning: permit and consent lead times must be built into the shipping calendar and reflected in the contract.
- Document consistency: goods description, quantity, HS code and waste code must be identical on the Annex, proforma and final invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
- Quality discipline: clean, single-polymer material simplifies procedures; mixed or contaminated loads are risky in both value and permits.
- National rules: waste imports into Türkiye remain subject to national environmental permits and inspection, with an environmental check on arrival. EU changes do not remove these obligations.
- Reliable intermediaries: whether the supplier handles EU-side procedures correctly decides whether the shipment clears smoothly on arrival.
Green Day Trade's approach
We collect and check documents between supplier and buyer from day one, share them early with customs and track every missing document per loading. By reflecting regulatory changes in shipping plans, we aim to spare both our suppliers and our buyers any surprises.
