The European Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) classifies waste into two categories, so-called “Green” and “Amber” waste. Shipments of so-called “Green waste” of Annexes III and IIIB as well as “Green” waste mixtures of Annex IIIA for recovery of more than 20 kg are subject to the general information requirements.
With the information obligations, there are obligations for the shipment of “green waste”. Shipments of this waste must be accompanied by a mandatory form (shipment information). This form (Annex_VII_EN_2026) is contained in Annex VII of the VVA. You can download a fillable PDF (valid until 21.05.2026) version here: DE version / EN version
Further obligations for the shipment of green waste are that
- from 21.05.2026: the person arranging the shipment must be authorised or registered in accordance with Chapter IV of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD),
- waste may only be transferred to a facility that is authorised or registered in accordance with Chapter IV of the WFD,
- when transferring waste for provisional recovery, information must be provided about the subsequent steps (recovery facility/facilities, R codes),
- a recovery contract must be concluded between the exporter and the consignee prior to the shipment,
- this recovery must be forwarded to the competent authority upon official order,
- a copy of the shipment information must be kept for three years, and
- information must be transmitted to the competent authority upon official request.
Shipments of waste for laboratory analysis of less than 25 kg (250 kg from 21.05.2026 onwards) of waste type to be analysed must also be accompanied only by the shipping information. This applies to all types of waste.
For waste shipments subject to general information requirements, the form must be completed by the exporter (from 21 May 2026: by electronis means in DIWASS) before each individual waste shipment (at least two working days before transport), carried (electronically) by the carrier for each shipment, signed by the operator of the disposal facility upon arrival of the waste (confirming receipt in box 14 within two working days) (and confirm completion of recovery electronically in box 15 no later than 30 days after completion of recovery and no later than one year after receipt of the waste). The shipment information must be kept by the person arranging the shipment, the recipient and the recovery facility for (five) three years.
To the extent that a participating authority does not classify a waste as “green waste” and considers it subject to notification during the transboundary shipment, the waste must also be treated as subject to notification by the other competent authorities (art. 29 WSR).
Special regulations for third countries
Special regulations exist for the export of “green waste” for recovery to a third country (country to which the OECD Decision does not apply). These countries have been asked by the EU Commission whether, and if so under which procedure, they allow imports of “green waste”. The EU Commission has translated the comments of the third countries into a binding regulation. The provisions of this regulation are compiled in an overview of the German Focal Point to the Basel Convention at the German Federal Environment Agency. You can download the so-called “Contry List” here. These regulations will remain in force until 21 May 2027, when they will be replaced by new regulations in accordance with Articles 39 to 43 of the VVA ((EU) 2024/1157).
To this end, third countries must submit a reasoned request to the Commission for inclusion in a list of countries to which green waste may be exported, using the form set out in Annex VIII to the WSR. The Commission shall examine the application in accordance with the requirements of Article 42 of the WSR and, depending on the outcome of the examination, shall include or exclude the country from the list. In doing so, the Commission shall apply the relevant provisions of the legislation and guidelines listed in Annex IX to the WSR.