On October 1, 2018, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has published a guidance, focused on recycling waste streams that may contain hazardous substances. The guidance “describes a decision scheme for authorization holders to decide whether the waste stream can be safely recycled.”

First, it should be decided whether the hazardous substance “can be removed from the waste stream.” If this is not possible, a risk inventory should be obtained “for the applications of interest.” This risk inventory will then “provide insight if the risk related to the presence of substance of very high concern is acceptable or not.”

The guidance builds on a study about hazardous substances in waste, published by RIVM in August 2017 (FPF reported). In September 2018, European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution calling for a swift action to prevent entrance of hazardous substances into recycling streams (FPF reported).

Read more

RIVM (October 1, 2018). “Advice for guidance with background document for performing a risk inventory for substances of very high concern in waste streams.

Chemical Watch (October 11, 2018). “RIVM publishes guidance on SVHCs in waste.

Reference

RIVM (October 1, 2018). “Advice for guidance with background document for performing a risk inventory for substances of very high concern in waste streams.(pdf)

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