The new European rules regarding waste transportation after 2026: impact on EEE recycling and non-ferrous metals in Romania
European context: why waste transportation is becoming a strictly regulated activity
The European Union has entered a new stage of regulation of the circular economy, in which waste transportation is no longer treated as a simple logistical operation but as an activity with a direct impact on climate policies, raw materials security, and environmental protection.
This change affects both electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) transportation and the flows of non-ferrous metals — aluminum, copper, or alloys — which supply large industrial capacities such as Hammerer Aluminium Industries Sântana or ALRO Slatina, largely dependent on international sourcing of secondary raw materials.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 — the new European framework for waste transport
The central element of the legislative reform is:
Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on waste transfers
It gradually replaces Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 and introduces the most comprehensive set of changes in waste transport regulation in the last 15 years.
Main objectives:
- Prevent illegal exports,
- Increase material traceability,
- Keep valuable waste within the European economy,
- Fully digitalize documentation flows.
Most provisions become applicable starting May 21, 2026.
Key changes introduced by Regulation 2024/1157
Mandatory digital system for transports (DIWASS)
The new legislation introduces compulsory electronic exchange of documents for waste transfers.
Operators will need to use interoperable digital systems at the EU level for:
- Notifications,
- Transport documents,
- Receipt confirmations,
- Authority verifications.
This measure is correlated with:
Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 on electronic information for freight transport (eFTI), which allows authorities to verify transports digitally.
Extended responsibility of the exporter
The regulation explicitly requires the exporter to demonstrate that the destination facility operates under conditions equivalent to EU standards.
This requirement directly affects extra-EU exports of:
- WEEE,
- scrap metal,
- non-ferrous fractions.
Increased restrictions for exports to non-OECD countries
Exports of waste to non-OECD countries will require additional checks and may be prohibited if there are no guarantees regarding proper treatment.
Limiting disposal transports
Transport destined for disposal (D operations) is heavily restricted and allowed only in exceptional situations approved by authorities.
The legislative focus shifts toward recovery operations (R).
European legislation applicable to operators
Waste transport is simultaneously regulated by several European legislative acts:
- Directive 2008/98/EC – Waste Framework Directive establishes:
- Waste hierarchy,
- Generator responsibility,
- Traceability requirements,
- End-of-Waste concept.
- Directive 2012/19/EU – WEEE Directive defines:
- Obligations for collection and treatment of WEEE,
- Reporting requirements,
- Extended producer responsibility (EPR).
- Regulation (EU) No 333/2011
Defines when certain metallic wastes cease to be wastes (End-of-Waste for iron, steel, and aluminum).
For the recycled aluminum industry — including major industrial suppliers — this regulation is essential because it determines whether the material circulates as waste or as a product.
- Regulation (EU) 1357/2014
Defines the hazardous properties of wastes (HP1–HP15), essential for establishing ADR applicability.
- CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008
Regulates classification and labeling of hazardous substances relevant to transport.
ADR — the mandatory component for road transport of hazardous waste
Hazardous waste transport within the EU must comply simultaneously with:
- Waste transfer regulation (lawfulness of transfer),
- ADR – European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
ADR mandates:
- UN codes,
- certified packaging,
- hazard labeling,
- ADR document,
- personnel training,
- safety equipment.
A transport may be legal under waste regulations but be blocked if ADR requirements are not met.
Transport of non-ferrous scrap — same legal complexity
Flows of aluminum, copper, or alloys:
- remain wastes until End-of-Waste criteria are met,
- are subject to Green List procedures or notification,
- require full traceability.
For industrial capacities such as Hammerer Aluminium Industries Sântana or ALRO Slatina, compliance with these transport regulations is essential for production continuity.
National differences within EU states
Although the framework is European, each member state can apply:
- Additional administrative requirements,
- Local notification procedures,
- Specific checks on transporters,
- Different interpretations of waste codes.
Therefore, transports must be analyzed with a compliance checklist for each country traveled.
National requirements in Romania
For non-hazardous waste:
Order No. 739/2017 mandates registration of transporters in the Register of economic operators transporting non-hazardous waste.
The operator owning the trucks must also be registered.
The new European legislative architecture transforms waste transport into a digitized, verifiable, and much more responsible process.
Starting in 2026, the success of recycling operations — whether WEEE or non-ferrous metals — will directly depend on operators’ ability to simultaneously integrate:
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1157,
- The Waste Framework Directive,
- WEEE legislation,
- End-of-Waste criteria,
- ADR rules,
- The national requirements of transit countries.
Transport thus becomes a strategic component of the European industrial chain, not just a logistical step.
