The revised Waste Shipment Regulation became effective on 21 May. It updates EU rules on waste trade to improve transparency, facilitate shipments of waste for recycling in the EU, better monitor export of waste to third countries and combat illegal shipments of waste. 

The Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS) was launched on the same day. It covers all waste shipments and will transform how waste is tracked across the EU. The goal is to ensure the secure and efficient circulation of waste within the single market and facilitate recycling into secondary materials. It will cut red tape for businesses and authorities and combat the illegal waste trade. However, operators can continue to use the old paper procedure until 31 December 2026.

DIWASS simplifies procedures for all stakeholders. For businesses, it means:  

• Faster processing of notifications, reducing delays at the borders.
• Simplified reporting, with automated data submission.
• Greater legal certainty, thanks to real-time access to shipment status.

For authorities, DIWASS provides:

• Instant access to shipment data, thus improving enforcement.
• More efficient handling of notifications, reducing bureaucratic delays.
• Better data collection for EU reporting obligations.
• Pragmatic transition for green-listed waste shipments

This shift is critical in strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy by improving the traceability and availability of secondary raw materials and reducing reliance on third-country imports of primary raw materials.

Other measures also became effective on 21 May, including reinforcing the "fast-track procedure" for waste sent to pre-consented EU facilities for recovery and introducing stricter rules on the export of plastic waste. From 21 November 2026, exports of plastic waste from the EU to non-OECD countries will be banned.