WSR: transboundary waste shipment regulations

On 12 July 2007, the new European Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR, or EVOA in the Netherlands) took effect. The objective of this regulation is to prevent the dumping of waste outside of Europe, and to gain better insight into international waste shipments in general.

Various procedures are prescribed for the cross-border shipment of waste. These procedures are dependent on:

  • The type of waste
  • How the waste is processed
  • The country to which the waste is shipped

What kind of waste is it?
In the new WSR, all waste is divided up into two lists based on the risks that these products represent; a Green and an Amber list. This classification is based on waste codes that are set out in the annexes to the Basel Convention and the OECD Decision.

How is the waste is processed?
The WSR makes a distinction between the processing methods of ‘removal’ and ‘useful application’. The method used to process the waste determines in part whether or not the import and export is permitted, as well as to dictate which procedure must be followed in order to obtain permission.

Which destination?
In general, it applies that procedures for the import and export of waste are less strict in countries which are members of the EU, EAA or OECD. Import from and export to other countries is usually prohibited. In addition, a transit or destination country can attach additional regulations to transport.

Under the 'green list controls', transport must be accompanied by a contract between the client and the recipient, and a shipping document, filled in completely and sent with the shipment. The notification procedure (typically used for the 'amber list') stipulates that written notice must be submitted to the competent authority prior to the shipment of the waste. The shipment must be accompanied by official documents, and the notification and transport document.