Under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) organised a workshop on the future of the EU Waste Framework Directive. This cornerstone of the EU's waste policy needs strengthening to manage resources sustainably, lower consumption's material footprint, and prevent waste generation.
A panel discussion included insights from civil society, business, and local governments on strengthening the directive and promoting sustainable resource management and circularity. Key solutions included making repair affordable, scaling up circular business models, harmonizing market signals at the European level, and fostering cooperation between local governments and businesses. Breakout sessions covered topics such as waste prevention, the waste hierarchy, biowaste collection, and circular economy incineration. The workshop's main findings have been shared with the European Commission to inspire future action.