Rules specific to certain types of waste
There is notable specific legislation applicable to waste produced by a number of given activities.
Some activities, the waste of which is subject to specific law, shall only be mentioned here, such as the use of sewerage sludge in agriculture, which is regulated so as to encourage their correct application, albeit without impairing the quality of the soil and agricultural products, which is prohibited where the concentration of one or several heavy metals in the soil exceeds certain limits (Directive 86/278 on the protection of the environment and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture).
Likewise, risks caused by polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCBs and PCTs) to human health and the environment became evident when an electric transformer that had caught fire exploded, causing serious toxication of local inhabitants and firemen in 1985. Their prohibition was then ruled (Directive 96/59/EC on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT)). The magnitude of the stakes involved was well illustrated a few years ago when fishing was prohibited for several years in major European rivers as a result of an excessive content of PCBs which was attributed to emissions from facilities recovering materials including such chemicals.
It also worth mentioning that bio-waste is for the first time dealt with as such in the Waste Framework Directive, according to which this is to deemed to include “biodegradable garden and park wastes, food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises and comparable waste from food processing plants” (Article 3(4)). In order to encourage the separate collection of bio-waste, with a view to composting and digestion, it must be treated in a way that achieves a high level of environmental protection, and the use of materials produced therefrom also (Article 22).
Major recent legislation on waste from the extractive industry (A) and ship recycling (B) are given a somewhat more detailed review below.