The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has endorsed a European Commission proposal to prohibit the export of mixed municipal waste destined for recovery, adopting its opinion on 17 June 2026 at plenary session No 606 by a vote of 204 in favour, one against and one abstention. The proposal, COM(2026) 183 final, would amend Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 and was referred to the EESC by the Council on 22 May 2026 and by the European Parliament on 30 April 2026.
The EESC's opinion builds on its earlier position on waste shipments, set out in an opinion adopted on 23 February 2022 (OJ C 275, 18.7.2022, p. 95). In the new opinion, the committee decided to endorse the proposed text without additional amendments, referring to the stance it had taken in that earlier document. The endorsement signals broad civil society support for tightening rules on waste exports, aligning with the EU's circular economy objectives.
The proposal targets mixed municipal waste, which is difficult to recycle and often ends up in landfills or incineration abroad. By banning its export for recovery, the Commission aims to reduce environmental harm and encourage domestic treatment. The EESC's backing adds weight to the legislative process, though the final decision rests with the Council and the European Parliament.
EU waste management companies may face reduced export markets but could benefit from increased domestic processing demand. EU municipalities would need to improve separate collection systems to avoid mixed waste generation. Environmental NGOs welcome the ban as a step toward zero-waste goals, while some exporting firms may face higher costs for alternative disposal. The regulation is expected to have a moderate impact on trade flows, particularly with non-EU countries that currently receive such waste.