The new Waste Framework Directive and its impact on textile waste

The new Waste Framework Directive clearly defines textiles as part of municipal waste, encourages the Member States to promote re-use and repair of textiles and stipulates a separate collection of end-of-life textiles by 2025. In view of the large environmental impact of the textile sector, this recent development has to be welcomed. However, still, some points are not clearly defined. There is no precise definition of what is meant by textiles for the purposes of the WFD. Even if a separate collection of textiles will be mandatory, the details need to be defined such as targets for collection, recycling or recycled content.
In May 2018, the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC (EC 2008) was amended by the adoption of Directive (EU) 2018/851 (EC 2018). This directive must have been transposed into national law by 5 July 2020. The amended Waste Framework Directive contains numerous amendments and supplements which should move European waste management towards a circular economy. While textiles did not play a role in the WFD until now, this has changed with the recent amendment. In the following, the changes relevant to textiles are presented and it is discussed whether the stipulations are useful and what effects this could have on the management of textiles.