European Commission Publishes Data on Waste Import Applications 

On 7 March 2025, the European Commission (EC) released detailed information on which waste streams non-OECD countries have applied to receive from the EU beyond May 2027, when the European Waste Shipments Regulation (WSR) is set to take effect. 

The newly published data allows recyclers across all material streams to check whether their specific materials and commodities are included in their country’s application. 

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has welcomed the move, having called for “greater transparency” in late February. 

This follows calls from the European Recycling Industries Confederation (EuRIC) for an immediate extension of the EU WSR deadlines, warning they could disrupt global recycling infrastructure by May 2027. EuRIC argued that non-OECD countries needed more time to comply, and with nearly 150 missing the 21 February 2025 deadline, a blanket ban on EU exports to these nations would be set to take effect from 21 May 2027. 

Following this, the EC has now confirmed that late applications will be accepted—though approval is not guaranteed. 

While the release of this information does not confirm approval of these applications, it provides insight into the potential flow of materials from the EU to the requesting countries if accepted. 

Under the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation 1157/2024 (WSR), non-OECD countries were required to submit applications by 21 February 2025 to continue importing recycled materials classified as waste from the EU. Countries that failed to submit a request faced a blanket ban on such imports starting 21 May 2027. 

To read more on this, you can access the LetsRecycle article here.