European Economic Area
EU Commission Adopts Expanded Waste-Shipment Green Lists
The Commission has adopted changes to EU waste-shipment green lists, including treated e-waste and manufacturing waste. The act is not yet in force.
Foresight
2 min readAI-drafted, expert reviewed
The European Commission adopted changes to the Waste Shipment Regulation's green lists on 26 October 2026. The changes cover specified waste streams moving between EU Member States, including treated electrical waste and manufacturing materials. The Commission register marks the delegated regulation not yet in force. Commission record.
Waste Streams Covered
The annex adds entries for non-hazardous fibre-reinforced polymer composites destined for recycling, mainly aluminium or steel construction waste, dry-collected mattresses destined for recycling, permanent magnets and qualifying vehicle metal waste. It also adds footwear, hats and belts that are not mixed with hazardous waste. Each entry has its own conditions. Annex IIIB amendments.
For qualifying intra-EU shipments, green-listing means the general information requirements under Article 18 apply instead of prior written notification and consent. The changes do not create a general exemption from waste-shipment controls. Recitals 2 and 8–9.
Separate Rules For Electrical Waste
New entry BEU09 covers properly treated electrical and electronic waste, components and specified sorted processing fractions that meet its non-hazardous conditions. Entry EU49 places electrical waste outside A1181 or BEU09 under the notification-and-consent regime. Annex amendments.
The distinction concerns treatment and classification. It does not green-list all discarded electrical equipment. The annex refers specifically to proper treatment under Article 8(2) of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. BEU09.
Earlier Controls And Entry Into Force
The Commission's explanatory memorandum links this change to earlier Basel Convention e-waste controls. It records that the EU's temporary intra-Union treatment of entries GC010 and GC020 runs until 31 December 2026. The adopted act removes those entries as they cease to apply from 1 January 2027. Memorandum and recitals 3–6.
The new regulation provides for entry into force 20 days after Official Journal publication. The Commission record does not yet establish an operative calendar date. Article 2.
Questions about this change
Does the EU waste-shipment act C(2026)7390 green-list all electrical waste?
No. Entry BEU09 is limited to properly treated electrical equipment, components and specified sorted processing fractions that satisfy its non-hazardous conditions. Electrical waste outside A1181 or BEU09 falls under entry EU49 and the notification-and-consent regime. The adopted act is not yet in force.
When do the EU Commission’s October 2026 waste green-list changes enter into force?
The adopted text specifies 20 days after publication in the Official Journal. The Commission register marks the act not yet in force as checked on 28 October 2026. This is separate from the existing end date of 31 December 2026 for entries GC010 and GC020.
Find out what this means for your products
Foresight follows changes like this one and shows where they reach your substances, products and markets.
Join 3,500+ professionals staying ahead
Foresight Weekly brings the week's regulatory changes across chemicals, product safety, sustainability, ESG and EHS into one email.
Read by professionals at
