EU - Commission Proposed New Limits for POP Chemicals in Waste

​The European Commission adopted a proposal to protect human health and the environment from some of the most harmful chemicals in waste - Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The proposal tightens the limits for these chemical in waste, preventing them from re-entering the economy.

POPs are chemicals with toxic properties that remain in the environment for a very long time, accumulate in food chains and can harm human health and the environment. The objective of the proposal is to eliminate or minimize POPs' emissions from waste. Although such chemicals are generally no longer used in new products, they can still be found in waste coming from some consumer products, such as waterproof textiles, furniture, plastics and electronic equipment.

The Commission is proposing to introduce stringent limits for the following three substances, or groups of substances, in waste, amending Annex IV and V of the POP Regulation:

- ​perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts and related compounds - found in waterproof textiles and fire-fighting foams. For PFOA and its salts: 1 mg/kg and for PFOA-related compounds: 40 mg/kg under Annex IV. For PFOA and its salts: 50 mg/kg and for PFOA-related substances: 2000 mg/kg under Annex V

- dicofol - a pesticide, previously used in agriculture. 50 mg/kg under Annex IV and 5000 mg/kg under Annex V

- pentachlorophenol, its salts and esters - found in treated wood and textiles. 100 mg/kg under Annex IV and 1000 mg/kg under Annex V.

Where Annex IV is a list of substances subject to waste management and Annex V contains exceptional cases allowing wastes containing POPs up to concentration limits if certain conditions are fulfilled.​

In addition, the Commission is also proposing to tighten the maximum limits in waste for another five substances or substance groups that are already regulated:

- Five polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs): 1000 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg and even 200 mg/kg 5 years after entry into application

- Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD): 1000 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg

- Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP): 10000 mg/kg to 1500 mg/kg

- Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) 0.015 mg TEQ/kg to 0.005 mg TEQ/kg

- Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): 50 mg/kg to 0.005 mg TEQ/mg (under PCDD/Fs)