The EU Waste Shipment Regulation Enters Full Application
The European Union’s revised Waste Shipment Regulation entered full application as of 21 May 2026. The regulation, which subjects the cross-border shipment of waste streams to stricter rules, reorganises the export and import of a wide range of waste, including textile waste. The next significant milestone of the regulation, the ban on plastic waste exports, will take effect on 21 November 2026.
The regulation strengthens traceability, prior notification, and consent processes for waste shipments within the EU and from the EU to third countries. The aim is to ensure that waste is directed to facilities where it is managed in an environmentally sound manner and to prevent uncontrolled waste exports outside the EU. Within this framework, waste shipments from the EU to third countries are to be directed only to facilities that meet specific environmental and technical criteria.
This regulation is particularly critical for the textile sector. A significant portion of textile waste collected in Europe is shipped to countries outside the EU for reuse and recycling purposes. The new rules require these shipments to be linked to the standards of processing facilities in recipient countries and the entire process to be documented more transparently. This creates new compliance obligations for stakeholders on both the exporting and importing sides.
As one of the major countries that imports textile waste from the EU and recovers it through recycling, Türkiye is among the parties directly affected by this regulation. Under the new rules, it will become increasingly important for Turkish recycling facilities to demonstrate that they meet specific environmental and technical standards in order to accept EU-origin waste streams. USB Certification continues to prepare sector stakeholders for this new era with the certification services it offers in verifying sustainable waste management and recycling processes.
