EU Waste Committee Backs Draft End-Of-Waste Criteria For Recycled Plastics

The EU Waste Committee delivered a positive opinion on draft end-of-waste criteria for recycled plastics on 3 November 2026. The formal voting record identifies draft D118658/02 and records 17 Member States in favour, two against and seven abstentions, with one not represented.

The vote advances a draft measure rather than itself creating binding requirements. The proposed regulation would establish conditions under which discarded thermoplastic polymers and their blends cease to be waste after mechanical or solvent-based recycling.

Material And Chemical Conditions

The resulting recyclate would be intended for new plastic products or articles containing plastic parts. Chemical recycling is outside the scope defined in Articles 1 and 2.

The draft annex requires foreign materials to be below 1.9% of moisture-free weight. It also contains conditions addressing hazardous substances, restrictions under REACH, classification and labelling, and persistent organic pollutants. End-of-waste status would not remove those chemical-compliance requirements.

Nor would it establish food-contact suitability. The draft explains that further decontamination may be necessary for recycled plastic intended for food-contact materials under the applicable food-contact rules.

Conformity And Timing

Producers would need a quality management system demonstrating compliance. Producers or importers would issue an electronic statement of conformity for each qualifying consignment, pass it to the next operator and retain a copy for at least five years.

The draft is based on Article 6(2) of the Waste Framework Directive, which provides for EU end-of-waste criteria. Its Article 7 proposes entry into force 20 days after Official Journal publication and application from the first day of the month of entry into force plus six months. The draft supplies no fixed calendar application date.