The EU has moved to restrict the 'permanent storage' of waste containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in abandoned mines or landfills. Under existing regulations, POP-contaminated wastes from the power production, metals, construction, water and waste industries must, as a general rule, be 'destroyed or irreversibly transformed' in a way that removes the POPs. Waste containing POPs above newly-introduced limits will now have to be destroyed or irreversibly transformed in all circumstances.
The thresholds are identical to those proposed by the European Commission in November last year; adoption was delayed by disagreements among member states.
