Waste transport

Transporting empty cartridges across national borders in the EU is a risky business, but not because of potential risks to human health. In spite of the absence of any health risks, some national and/or regional authorities still consider this to be an activity which requires a special transport licence. However, others do not.

This lack of a harmonised approach is a minefield for operators, and distorts fair competition because identical cases get treated differently.

The proposed review of the EU waste shipment rules (currently in the EU Parliament) will only worsen an already difficult situation. Also the enlargement of the EU has added to the problems, as many accession countries are not aware of, or are administratively unable to apply the rules.

Remanufacturing cartridges is an environmentally-friendly activity that should be stimulated by the authorities EU-wide. The EU rules regarding transporting empties should therefore facilitate transport rather than discourage it.
According to ETIRA, the current stringent waste transport rules, which supposedly help the environment, work out fully counterproductive because in practice they result in more empties going to landfill.

March 2005