WASTE DISPOSAL IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK AND PRACTICE

Abstract

Waste disposal is a global challenge, particularly in the context of environmental pollution prevention and human health protection. That is the reason why the European Union has been adopting and applying a series of documents pertinent to this issue. The most relevant are: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on Waste and Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the Landfll of Waste. However, the reports of the European Commission and the practice of the Court of Justice of the European Union confirm that there are numerous disparities between the Member States regarding the implementation of standards of waste management in general and in particular, waste disposal. The Republic of Serbia has to make substantial improvements in the area of waste disposal, especially in the context of the upcoming opening of the Negotiation Chapter 27, dedicated to the environment and climate change. Therefore, the authors analyse legal sources of the European Union related to waste disposal, reports on their application and relevant practice of the Court of Justice of the European Union as potential directions and guidelines.