# Waste Framework Directive (WFD)

Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives

- Status: Amendments pending
- Legal order: European Union
- Legal area: Waste and end-of-waste status
- OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3, as amended
- Business profile: Smelting, Semi-fabrication, Recycling, Scrap trade, Waste shipments

## In brief

Framework for waste management in the EU: definition of waste, waste hierarchy, conditions for end-of-waste status, permits for treatment and record-keeping. Basis for the EoW criteria for Fe, Al and Cu scrap.

## Key obligations

- waste that has undergone recycling or another recovery operation ceases to be waste where it meets all 4 conditions: specific purpose, market, technical requirements, no adverse impacts (Art. 6(1))
- detailed EoW criteria are laid down by the Commission in implementing acts; in their absence – by the Member State or by case-by-case decision (Art. 6(2)–(4))
- waste treatment requires a permit specifying the types and quantities of waste and the treatment methods (Art. 23(1))
- treatment establishments and producers of hazardous waste keep a chronological record of the quantity, nature, origin and destination of waste (Art. 35(1))
- records relating to hazardous waste are kept for at least 3 years, and in the case of transport – for 12 months (Art. 35(2))

## Competent authority

transposition: Minister of Climate and Environment; implementation in PL – authorities designated in the Act on waste (district head (starosta), Marshal of the Voivodeship, Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (WIOŚ))

## Penalties

penalties laid down by the Member State – effective, proportionate and dissuasive (Art. 36(2)); in PL – Art. 194 et seq. of the Act on waste

## Entry into force

12.12.2008

## Application

transposition by 12.12.2010; amendments: 2018/851, 2023/1542, 2025/1892 (transposition by 17.06.2027)

## Key dates

- 16.10.2025: entry into force of Directive (EU) 2025/1892 amending the WFD (textiles, food waste)
- 17.06.2027: transposition deadline for Directive (EU) 2025/1892

## Pending changes

Circular Economy Act – announced in the Commission work programme for 2026 (Q3 2026); according to the EP Legislative Train (update of 20.09.2026) the proposal has not been submitted. COM(2026) 590, 2026/0265(COD) (Public Procurement Act) provides, inter alia, for an amendment to Directive 2008/98/EC – stage: Commission proposal of 9.09.2026.

## Related acts

- [Amendment to the Waste Framework Directive (2025)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-wfd-2025-1892/)
- [European List of Waste (LoW)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-low/)
- [End-of-waste criteria for iron, steel and aluminium scrap](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-eow-333-2011/)
- [End-of-waste criteria for copper scrap](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-eow-715-2013/)
- [Act on waste (BDO, permits, EoW)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/pl-ustawa-odpady/)
- [Circular Economy Act (CEA) – announced](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-cea/)

## Official sources

- [Text of the act](http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/98/oj)
- [Consolidated text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02008L0098-20251016)
- [EUR-Lex – Directive 2008/98/EC, document information and relations](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32008L0098)
- [European Parliament – Legislative Train: Circular Economy Act](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-new-plan-for-europe-s-sustainable-prosperity-and-competitiveness/file-circular-economy-act)
- [EUR-Lex – COM(2026) 590 (Public Procurement Act)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/ALL/?uri=CELEX:52026PC0590)

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Register as of: 22.10.2026. The official text of the act prevails. IGMNiR. On the website: https://igmnir.org/en/law/#akt-eu-wfd