The Circular Economy: from Take-back Obligations to the Producer Responsibility

With Professor Nicolas de Sadeleer, University of Saint - Louis, Brussels

Tuesday, 27 August
3pm - 4pm
Sustainability Victoria,
Lv. 28, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

In embarking on a major reform of EU waste law, and the regulation of plastic, the EU institutions have been stimulating Europe's transition towards a circular economy. The new Waste Management Rules that set clear targets for reduction of waste and establish an ambitious and credible long-term path for waste management and recycling have entered into force in July 2018. Take-back obligations are thus reinforced and the Producer Responsibility has to be fleshed out. Lately, the EU lawmaker adopted a directive aiming at limiting plastics waste, targeting in particular the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on Europe's beaches and seas. This web of ambitious rules is somewhat complex. Author of a landmark book on EU waste law, the speaker shall highlight the key legal challenges of the new circular economy.

Presenter

Professor de Sadeleer is Professor of EU law at the University of Saint - Louis, Brussels. He recently has been reappointed as a Jean Monnet Chair in the EU in the area of Environmental Law. Formerly held a Marie Curie Chair at the University of Oslo. Professor de Sadeleer held a Jean Monnet Chair on Trade and Environment in 2010-14. He has been a guest professor at different African, Australian, Asian, Latin American and North American Universities. He was appointed in 2017 Distinguished International Visiting Professor at the University of Canberra, Australia. He cooperates with more than 20 universities across the EU. Professor de Sadeleer is the author of 11 books and has written many articles on EU environmental law, free movement of goods, internal market and EU tax law.