ABSTRACT
This chapter presents European waste regulation and policies, their principles and basic trends, while questioning their impact on the economy and the necessary implication of producers in order to achieve their goals. The chapter presents the European circular economy plan and questions its feasibility by following the life cycle of an electronic tablet. The example demonstrates how a single product is subject to multiple requirements on eco-design, energy efficiency, radio frequency, electromagnetic compatibility, chemicals restrictions, labelling, environmental claims, information to consumers and market operators, waste collection, treatment and recycling, as well as restrictions on the shipment and export of its waste. It also examines the interaction between waste and chemical policies in a circular economy environment, while making suggestions for negotiations under a harmonized governance scheme.
