With the revised Waste Shipment Regulation (EU) 2024/1157, the European Union is tightening its rules for the export of waste — in particular plastic waste. The aim is to keep problematic material flows more firmly in the EU, to enforce environmental standards and to strengthen the circular economy in the internal market. For logistics and transport, this means a structural shift: Fewer exports to third countries, more intra-European recycling — and significantly higher documentation and control requirements.

What is changing in practice?

The regulation came into force in 2024 and is gradually taking effect. The following points are particularly relevant:

• Stricter approval and reporting requirements for waste shipments (prior notification and approval by competent authorities).
• Export ban on plastic waste to non-OECD countriesr (with transition periods).
• Stricter requirements also for exports to OECD countries, including proof that environmentally friendly recycling is taking place.
• More transparency and control powers along the entire transport chain.

The distinction is important: Not all recyclate is waste. However, the interface between “waste for recycling” and “secondary raw material” is being monitored more closely by regulation. For transporters, this means that the classic container load of plastic waste heading to a third country will become an exception in the future — or will be completely omitted.

More domestic recycling, new transport axes

If plastic waste can no longer be exported or can only be exported to a very limited extent, the importance of intra-European recycling capacities increases. Material flows that previously went through seaports in third countries will become more frequent in the future:

• diverted to recycling facilities within the EU,
• transported by road and rail instead of by intercontinental sea freight,
• bundled and processed in regional cycles.

This creates new transport profiles for logistics: more inland transport, more multimodal solutions, shorter but more complex routes. At the same time, the requirements for capacities near sorting and processing plants are increasing.

Documentation becomes a core process

The new regulation strengthens the principle of traceability. Transports of plastic waste are subject to clear approval procedures and documentation requirements. The decisive factors are:

• unique classification of the material (waste code),
• full accompanying documents,
• complete batch and origin identification,
• digital communication with authorities.

Missing or incorrect information can result in rejections at borders, delays in ports or fines. The operational consequence: Compliance becomes part of transport planning — not just a downstream formality.

Effects on ports and sea freight

Ports that have so far shipped relevant volumes of plastic waste to third countries could see falling export volumes in the medium term. At the same time, throughput within Europe is increasing. That changes:

• accounting logics at shipping companies,
• container availabilities,
• terminal operations (more domestic throughput, less intercontinental export).

For logistics service providers, this means that flexibility in route selection and close exchange with port operators are becoming more important.

Market and price effects

If more plastic waste remains in the EU, this can lead in the short term to overcapacity at recycling plants or to bottlenecks in high-quality sorting — depending on the region. Transport capacities must adapt to this. At the same time, the demand for high-quality recycled materials that are no longer classified as waste is increasing.

The border between waste transport and secondary raw material logistics is therefore strategically relevant: Organizing clean, certified material flows reduces regulatory risks.

Recommendations for practical action

1. Check material classification: Clear distinction between waste and recyclate.
2. Digitize document processes: Early involvement of compliance teams.
3. Analyze inland routes: Evaluate alternative EU recycling sites.
4. Plan for multimodal options: Check road—rail combinations.
5. Observe regulatory deadlines: Include approval periods in the terms.

The new EU waste shipment regulation is more than an environmental instrument — it is a structural intervention in existing logistics patterns. The export of plastic waste is severely restricted and intra-European recycling is being strengthened. For logistics, this means new transport axes, higher documentation requirements and a growing importance of compliance and data quality. Circular economy is therefore not only a question of materials, but also of organization.