On Monday, the European Commission received requests from Nigeria and 23 other countries outside the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), aiming to be included in the list of nations eligible to import non-hazardous waste from the European Union.
Non-hazardous waste, which represents 95.6% of the solid waste generated in Europe, encompasses municipal waste such as packaging, clothing, bottles, plastics, and demolition materials like concrete, bricks, stones, and food waste.
This request aligns with the new Waste Shipments Regulation, introduced under the EU’s Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. The regulation aims to enforce stricter rules governing the shipment of waste, including imports and exports between the EU and non-OECD countries. A key element of the regulation is the complete ban on the export of plastic waste from the EU by November 2026.
Countries seeking to be eligible to import non-hazardous waste must demonstrate their capability to manage these materials in an environmentally responsible manner, meeting or exceeding EU standards. To assess their readiness, the European Commission requires detailed information from the applicants.
The countries that have submitted requests include Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, North Macedonia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Vietnam, along with Nigeria.
“By the deadline, 24 requests were submitted for inclusion in the list of countries eligible to import non-hazardous waste from the EU after May 21, 2027,” stated the European Commission. The Commission will evaluate these applications and compile a list of approved countries by November 2026. After May 2027, any country not included on the list will be prohibited from importing waste from the EU.
Countries that missed the February 2025 deadline can still submit requests, though there is no guarantee their applications will be assessed before the first list is finalized.
“The first list of authorized countries will be established by November 21, 2026. Waste exports to non-OECD countries not included on this list will be prohibited from May 21, 2027. This list will be updated regularly, at least every two years. Countries that did not submit requests by February 21, 2025, may still send requests to the Commission, but there is no assurance their assessment will be completed before the first list is adopted,” the statement concluded.
