TECH-FAB Europe has welcomed the European Commission’s proposed amendments to the Waste Shipments Regulation, particularly the proposed green-listing of qualifying composites waste transported between EU Member States for recovery. The association said the measure could help increase the scale of collection and recycling operations for end-of-life composite materials.
The Commission’s draft delegated act proposes adding non-hazardous fibre-reinforced polymer composites waste to a new BEU06 entry under Annex IIIB of the EU Waste Shipments Regulation. The proposed classification is intended to simplify the movement of eligible waste streams while maintaining traceability and environmental safeguards.
Cross-border logistics remain a challenge for composite recycling because waste streams are often geographically dispersed, while specialised recycling facilities are not available in every EU Member State. Allowing qualifying waste to move more efficiently between countries could connect collected materials with appropriate treatment capacity.
The change could also address one of the key economic challenges associated with composite recycling. Pooling waste streams across borders can increase feedstock volumes and improve the economies of scale required for commercially viable recycling operations. This could support investment in collection, sorting, processing, and recycling infrastructure.
TECH-FAB Europe is supporting the position of the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA), which has advocated dedicated waste codes for composite materials. EuCIA launched the European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA) in 2025, bringing together more than 200 stakeholders across the composites value chain to address end-of-life material challenges.
EuCIA has also recommended that the proposed framework explicitly recognise a broader range of reinforcement fibres, including glass, carbon, aramid, and natural fibres, while retaining the requirement that qualifying waste be non-hazardous. The association is additionally calling for a technology-neutral approach that accommodates mechanical, chemical, and thermal recycling routes, as well as mineral recovery through cement co-processing where appropriate.
The proposed framework could therefore support a more connected European recycling ecosystem for fibre-reinforced polymer composites. Easier movement of eligible waste could improve access to specialised processing capacity, while larger and more consistent feedstock volumes could strengthen the economics of recycling technologies and help retain recovered materials within the European economy.
TECH-FAB Europe said further measures under the Circular Economy Act and related legislation could complement the proposed waste-shipment changes by increasing demand for recycled materials, improving traceability, and clarifying end-of-waste criteria. The association also highlighted the importance of continued alignment with the Basel Convention for international composites waste shipments.
Source: Tech-Fab | News
