08/16/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/16/2022 04:53
As a result of EU legislation, airlines experience a large difference in their ability to manage catering
waste from flights within the EU and catering waste coming from outside the EU.
Catering waste from within the EU is efficiently processed, recycled and reused. Here airlines
demonstrate the opportunities that a circular economy can offer, minimising residual waste and, as
a result, reducing impacts and costs to society and the environment.
For catering waste generated on flights coming from outside the EU, the story is completely different.
Current EU legislation (Regulation (EU) 1069/2009) classifies this as Category 1 (CAT1) International
Catering Waste (ICW), which requires disposal by incineration or deep burial in an authorised landfill.
Thereby EU legislation de facto inhibits reuse, recycling and biotreatment of ICW from outside the
EU (1)
In practice, almost everything is burnt, even unopened bottles of water, or buried when incineration is not possible, in spite of EU airlines and passengers having a strong desire and means
to do more in terms of reuse and recycling.
While the Regulation is clear in its aim to avoid the spread of animal disease, which the sector fully
supports, it does not appear to be risk-based and prevents airlines from segregating, recovering and/
or recycling waste. In addition, no ICW guidance has been provided at EU level, which results in
differences in implementation and application across Member States (2).
In order to determine the potential risks to animal health posed by ICW, IATA commissioned a study
from a food safety and animal health consultancy and the key findings include:
Due to the CAT1 Waste classification and the current state of legislation, the EU, European airlines
and international airlines flying into Europe are missing out on more sustainable and efficient waste management solutions. Moreover, the CAT1 classification hampers airlines from implementing the
EU's ambitions for a circular economy. For example, Directive (EU) 2019/904 encourages the
replacement of single use plastics (SUP) with other materials. However, the circular economy benefits
are undermined as CAT1 classification means alternative recyclable materials still need to be
incinerated or landfilled and bio-based alternatives cannot be biotreated.
In line with the EU's own better regulation principles, it is only appropriate to assess whether this
nearly 13 year old Regulation is still fit for purpose and takes the EU's targets for moving towards a
fully circular economy properly into consideration.
In the above context, the undersigned therefore:
The adoption of smarter International Catering Waste (ICW) regulation will result in less cabin waste,
more material recovery, financial benefits and improved customer satisfaction whilst supporting
policy-makers in maintaining high animal health status whilst contributing to the EU's ambitious
circular economy goals.
(1) The EU defines 'International Catering Waste' (ICW) as catering waste from means of transport 'operating internationally'. Catering waste from outside the EU is always classified as Category 1 (CAT1) Waste. CAT1 Waste is a type of waste that has been classified as potentially dangerous to animal and/or plant health. All CAT1 Waste must be disposed of by incineration, pressure sterilisation or deep landfill burial.
(2) For example, Finnish authorities have made an exception to allow for the recycling of cups and containers which have held milk or honey as both substances were deemed harmless - see kansainvälinen ruokajäte.
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 22 770 2967
Email: [email protected]
Notes for Editors: