Affaldsbekendtgørelsen

Affaldsbekendtgørelsen is the Danish executive order that sets out the rules for waste management in Denmark. It is part of the Danish waste legislation and implements relevant EU directives by providing detailed provisions for how waste is defined, classified, and handled in practice.

The regulation defines what constitutes waste, outlines categories and, where applicable, hazardous waste characteristics. It establishes requirements for classification, labeling, and the documentation of waste (including waste notes and notifications for hazardous waste) and governs the transport of waste between locations. It also sets the licensing and permitting framework for entities that collect, store, treat, recover, or dispose of waste, and for activities involving the transport of waste.

Affaldsbekendtgørelsen covers producer responsibility and management of various waste streams, including packaging and other product-related wastes. It codifies the waste management hierarchy and prescribes rules for storage, handling, and treatment of waste, with emphasis on prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and, when necessary, disposal.

The regulation addresses cross-border movements of waste in accordance with EU rules and specifies administrative responsibilities. Enforcement and compliance are carried out primarily by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen) in cooperation with municipalities, with sanctions and penalties for non-compliance and permit violations.

Relation to other law: it complements the Waste Act (Affaldsloven) and other environmental legislation, and is periodically amended to align with new EU directives and policy targets. It is published in official Danish sources (Retsinformation and the Official Journal) and applies to producers, waste operators, transporters, treatment facilities, and municipalities. Overall, it provides a clear framework to ensure safe, environmentally sound waste management and to promote resource efficiency in Denmark.