Laws & policies

Basel Convention plastic waste amendments

Amendments to the Basel Convention annexes on plastic waste, effective from 1 January 2021. They add entry Y48 to Annex II, covering plastic waste, including mixtures of such wastes, unless these are hazardous (entry A3210) or presumed not to be hazardous (entry B3011).

Global plastics treaty — UNEP Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC)

Negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, mandated by the UN Environment Assembly resolution of 2 March 2022 (UNEP/EA.5/Res.14). Since the second part of the fifth session (INC-5.2), work has continued through informal Heads of Delegation meetings.

Circular Economy Act (CEA)

A planned Commission proposal to facilitate the free movement of circular products, secondary raw materials and waste, and to increase supply of and demand for recycled materials.

End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELVR) — Regulation (EU) 2026/1738

Regulation (EU) 2026/1738 on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles replaces Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/EC. It sets mandatory post-consumer recycled plastic content for new vehicle types (15% from 1 September 2032, 25% from 1 September 2036).

EU-wide end-of-waste criteria for plastic waste

A planned Commission implementing regulation establishing EU-wide end-of-waste criteria for plastic waste: a single, harmonised set of criteria for when plastic waste ceases to be waste.

Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA)

Commission proposal COM(2026) 100 for a regulation establishing a framework of measures for the acceleration of industrial capacity and decarbonisation in strategic sectors. The sectors listed include the manufacture of rubber and plastic products (NACE C22).

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste replaces Directive 94/62/EC. It entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies from 12 August 2026. Detailed rules follow in implementing and delegated acts, with deadlines set out in the Commission's implementation timeline.

Plastic Pellet Losses Regulation — Regulation (EU) 2025/2365

Regulation (EU) 2025/2365 on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution. It applies from 17 December 2027; certain provisions apply from 16 December 2025.

Public Procurement Regulation (Public Procurement Act)

Commission proposal COM(2026) 590 for a regulation on public contracts and concessions, repealing Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU. It strengthens the contribution of procurement to circularity, recycled and refurbished content and waste recovery, and creates a framework for mandatory green procurement requirements for certain product categories.

REACH restriction on intentionally added microplastics (Annex XVII entry 78)

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 restricts synthetic polymer microparticles under REACH (Annex XVII, entry 78), with transitional periods of 4 to 12 years for specific products. Regulation (EU) 2026/1168 amends the derogations.

Recycled plastics in food contact — Regulation (EU) 2022/1616

Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 governs recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, including authorisation of recycling processes and the framework for novel technologies.

Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) — Directive (EU) 2019/904

Directive (EU) 2019/904 restricts certain single-use plastic products and sets recycled-content targets for single-use plastic beverage bottles. Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1425 sets the rules for calculating, verifying and reporting recycled content in those bottles.

Waste Framework Directive — Directive 2008/98/EC

Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. It was amended by Directive (EU) 2025/1892, which Member States must transpose by 17 June 2027, and a Commission proposal of 10 December 2025 (COM(2025) 986) would simplify some of its requirements.

Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) — Regulation (EU) 2024/1157

Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on shipments of waste repeals Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006. It applies from 21 May 2026, with other dates for specific provisions; the prohibition on exporting plastic waste classified under entry B3011 to countries to which the OECD Decision does not apply applies from 21 November 2026.

WEEE Directive — Directive 2012/19/EU

Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment, amended by Directive (EU) 2024/884. A December 2025 Commission proposal would suspend the rules on appointing authorised representatives for EPR.

Germany — Packaging Act and its replacement adapting German law to the PPWR (VerpackDG)

Germany's law adapting packaging law and other areas of law to Regulation (EU) 2025/40, adopted by the Bundestag on 11 June 2026.

Spain — packaging decree (RD 1055/2022) and tax on non-reusable plastic packaging (Law 7/2022)

Spain's Law 7/2022 of 8 April on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy sets a tax rate of EUR 0.45 per kilogram (Article 78) for its special tax on non-reusable plastic packaging. Royal Decree 1055/2022 of 27 December governs packaging and packaging waste.

France — household packaging EPR bonus for recycled plastic (IMPR)

Under the French EPR schemes, producers that incorporate recycled plastic receive a bonus (prime) on their eco-contribution. Collection, sorting, recycling and incorporation must take place within 1,500 km of the barycentre of metropolitan France, in an EU country or a third country with equivalent standards.

Italy — tax on single-use plastic products (plastic tax)

Netherlands — Verpact packaging waste management fee and plastic fee modulation

Verpact, the Dutch packaging producer responsibility organisation, sets the annual packaging waste management fee. From 2027 the discount for recyclate and bio-based drop-ins rises to up to EUR 0.78/kg, with the full discount only for material from countries on Verpact's list.

Sweden — producer responsibility for packaging and municipal collection

Since 1 January 2024 Swedish municipalities collect household packaging waste, financed by producers. All municipalities must have kerbside collection of paper, plastic, metal and glass packaging by 1 January 2027.

UK — Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers (England and Northern Ireland)

A deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers in England and Northern Ireland, run by a deposit management organisation, starting on 1 October 2027.

UK — Extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR)

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 set extended producer responsibility for packaging in the UK. Large producers must report packaging data, meet recycling obligations with PRNs or PERNs, and pay a waste disposal fee for household packaging to PackUK, the scheme administrator; small producers have fewer obligations.

UK — Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT)

A tax on plastic packaging components manufactured in or imported into the UK that contain less than 30% recycled plastic, in force since 1 April 2022.

California — SB 54 Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act

California's SB 54 Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. Its permanent regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law and took effect on 1 May 2026.

Colorado — Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling (HB 22-1355)

US federal — single-use plastic packaging in federal procurement (GSAR)

A GSA Acquisition Regulation rule, effective 8 July 2024, adds a provision and clause to identify single-use plastic free packaging for products under the Federal Supply Schedules.

Maryland — Packaging and Paper Products Producer Responsibility Plans (SB 901, 2025)

SB 901 (Chapter 431 of 2025) requires producers of packaging and paper products to submit producer responsibility plans to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Maine — Stewardship Program for Packaging (EPR)

Maine's Stewardship Program for Packaging, established by a law passed in July 2021. The Board of Environmental Protection adopted the program rule, Chapter 428, in December 2024, and it was amended in March 2026. A stewardship organisation is to run the program day to day; in September 2026 the Department of Environmental Protection announced it would revise its request for proposals after none were submitted.

Minnesota — Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act

Oregon — Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (SB 582)

Oregon's Recycling Modernization Act (SB 582, 2021) makes producers of packaging, paper products and food serviceware fund improvements to the recycling system through a producer responsibility organisation.

Washington State — Recycling Reform Act (E2SSB 5284) packaging and paper EPR

Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5284 (Chapter 316, Laws of 2025) on producer responsibility for packaging and paper products in Washington State, approved by the Governor on 17 May 2025. After 1 July 2026 producers must be members of a producer responsibility organisation registered in the state, or register as a producer responsibility organisation that will implement an individual plan.

China — national standards for recycled plastics

Recommended national standards (GB/T) on recycled plastics, listed on the national standards information public service platform. They include identification and marking of recycled plastics (GB/T 45090-2024), requirements for the chain of custody management system of recycled plastics (GB/T 47982-2026) and testing and characterisation of mechanically recycled PP and PE (GB/T 47920-2026).

China — plastic pollution control action plan (single-use plastics restrictions)

Action plan on plastic pollution control for the 14th Five-Year Plan period, issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (Fagai Huanzi [2021] No. 1298). It aims to further improve whole-chain governance of plastic pollution, promote source reduction in plastic production and use, promote plastic substitutes, and speed up the proper collection and recycling of plastic waste.