According to the latest regulations released by the European Union under the European Green Deal and the second Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU will fully ban the export of plastic waste starting from November 21, 2026. This new waste transport regulation establishes a more stringent system for waste transport within the EU and between the EU and other countries, aiming to prevent the EU from exporting waste problems overseas and promote the environmentally sound management of waste.
The regulation also introduces modern digital procedures to track waste transport within the EU, making it easier to recycle and reuse waste across member states. For non-OECD countries, they must submit an official application to the European Commission to continue importing non-hazardous waste from the EU, with a deadline of February 21, 2025. As of that date, 24 countries have submitted applications, and the EU will release the first list of eligible countries by November 2026, which will be updated at least every two years.
This ban will have a profound impact on the global plastic recycling industry, prompting enterprises to adjust their waste disposal strategies and accelerate the transition to a circular economy model.
