10 - Material Recycling without Hazardous Substances

Summary

Closure of material loops has been a continuous aspiration of policy-makers in various parts of the world in recent decades. Parallel to this, governments at different levels have been also looking to reduce problems associated with hazardous substances. The two policy aspirations have been translated into a number of laws related to recycling and waste management, as well as those pertaining to the restriction and appropriate management of the use of chemicals and hazardous substances. Manufacturers have been encouraged to increase the use of recycled materials, on one hand, but they have been required to keep the products free of substances likely to harm humans and the environment. This chapter reviews legislative developments in the two fields in the EU and their implications for the manufacturers of selected products. We examine general legislation on waste, chemicals and products in the EU, product-specific legislation in the EU, and the development of international law and policy. Findings from an interview study undertaken in 2012 of manufacturers’ experiences and future outlook provide the main empirical data illustrating the impact of the legislation.