Assessment and Perspectives of European Waste Laws

Overview

The conference commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the first EU Waste Framework Directive, bringing together experts from law, management, and social sciences to assess the historical and current landscape of European waste legislation. Participants will explore how these laws have been implemented across member states and the local adaptations and challenges faced.

Key Themes

Two central tensions will be examined:

1. EU Harmonisation vs. Territorial Innovation: The balance between standardized regulations and local adaptations.
2. Power Dynamics: The interactions between public, private, and civil society actors in waste management.

Contributions

The conference encourages a broad range of contributions, including but not limited to:

• Geographical Scales: Local, regional, national, and international perspectives.
• Waste Streams: Discussions on various types of waste, including municipal, hazardous, and electronic waste.
• Policy Instruments: Examination of frameworks like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT).
• Infrastructure: Insights into waste processing technologies and facilities.

The aim is to reflect on past trajectories and collaboratively envision the future of waste governance in Europe, addressing both challenges and opportunities ahead. For more details, visit the event website or check the agenda.