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EU clarifies rules to allow continued waste recovery shipments to Switzerland

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The new amendment ensures that long-standing and sustainable waste management arrangements can continue.

A targeted and limited amendment to the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation is set to enter into force later this month. It will allow the continued export of mixed municipal waste to Switzerland for recovery, including recycling or energy. 

Under the current EU rules, exports of mixed municipal waste for recovery to countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA), including Switzerland, have been banned since 21 May 2026.

The amendment ensures that long-standing and sustainable waste management arrangements between the EU and Switzerland can continue, in line with the EU’s principle that waste should be handled as close as possible to where it is produced. 

The measure will prevent disruption to established waste management practices, particularly in the border regions of Austria, France, Germany and Italy, from which around 200,000 tonnes of mixed municipal waste are sent to Switzerland each year.

It provides a practical solution to avoid unnecessary burdens on local authorities and waste operators, while maintaining high environmental standards. This measure only covers export for recovery (recycling or energy recovery), while waste export rules for landfilling or incineration are much stricter.

This amendment supports the EU’s simplification agenda and circular economy goals, ensuring that waste management remains efficient and sustainable. 

Next steps

The amendment will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, on 30 July.

Background

Since 1993, the EU has regulated the cross-border shipment of waste to ensure safe, transparent, and environmentally responsible management.  

A new EU Waste Shipment Regulation entered into force on 20 May 2024 to ensure the EU takes greater responsibility for its waste. 

More information

Targeted amendment on Switzerland to Waste Shipment Regulation | EUR-Lex

Waste shipments | European Commission

VIDEO: How is the EU tackling illegal waste shipments? | European Commission

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