Extended Producer Responsibility as an instrument to achieve an effective circular economy. Approach to EU legislation and the Spanish law on waste and contaminated soils

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/rev.dir.econ.soc.v12i1.28613

Keywords:

circular economy; extended producer responsibility; environmental law; climate change; waste law.

Abstract

This paper critically analyses Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as an instrument to achieve an effective circular economy. To this end, we study its conceptualisation, regulation and evolution. This instrument requires constant revision in order to achieve the effective minimisation of waste, focusing on prevention, especially on the durability of products. Firstly, we study its initial configuration in Directive (EU) 2008/98, Waste Framework Directive (WFD), as a new instrument, and in Law 22/2011, on waste and contaminated soils (LRSC), which transposed it into Spanish law, as well as in the royal decrees that develop it. Secondly, we study its new configuration after the modification of the WFD by Directive (EU) 2018/851, as a result of the Circular Economy Action Plan of 2015, as well as in Directive (EU) 2019/904, on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. Thirdly, we present the main proposals of the preliminary draft of the LRSC, and, finally, some concluding thoughts and recommendations.

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Author Biography

Aitana de la Varga Pastor, Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Profesora Agregada de Derecho Administrativo del Departamento de Derecho Público de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona, Catalunya, España). Doctora en Derecho por la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (Barcelona – Catalunya, España). Investigadora del Centro de Estudios de Derecho Ambiental de Tarragona (CEDAT). Miembro de la Red Docente Eurolatinoamericana de Derecho Administrativo (REDOEDA), de la IUCN Academy of Environmental Law (IUCNAEL), de la Asociación Española de Profesores de Derecho Administrativo (AEPDA), y del Observatorio de Políticas Ambientales (OPAM).  E-mail: [email protected]

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Published

2021-09-10

How to Cite

de la Varga Pastor, A. (2021). Extended Producer Responsibility as an instrument to achieve an effective circular economy. Approach to EU legislation and the Spanish law on waste and contaminated soils. Revista De Direito Econômico E Socioambiental, 12(1), 3–59. https://doi.org/10.7213/rev.dir.econ.soc.v12i1.28613

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2021): January/April

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2021 Aitana de la Varga Pastor

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