Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials

The Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials argues that the increasing presence of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in waste streams poses risks to human health and the environment due to uncertainties regarding their toxicity. The signatories call for the implementation of full producer responsibility, the restriction of transboundary waste movements, and the creation of an EU-wide public nano-product registry to ensure transparent quantification of waste flows. They further advocate for innovation in waste prevention, the development of safe recycling and disposal technologies, and the establishment of verifiable end-of-waste criteria to support a circular economy without introducing new environmental risks.

• The increasing volume of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in waste streams—including consumer products, industrial and medical waste, and treatment residues—creates risks of environmental and human exposure to substances with toxicity that is not yet fully understood.
• The signatories demand that governments, companies, and funding institutions implement full producer responsibility for MNMs, which should include mandatory waste characterisation, waste declaration, and the establishment of nano-specific occupational health and safety standards for workers.
• To manage waste flows within the European Union, the declaration calls for strict control mechanisms on the export of waste containing MNMs, similar to hazardous waste regulations, and the creation of an EU-wide public nano-product registry for transparent quantification.
• The document advocates for a circular economy approach where MNMs are used to improve product repair and recyclability (such as through switchable adhesives) provided they do not introduce new risks, and calls for source reduction of MNM waste to be a requirement for publicly funded R&D.
• The declaration emphasizes the need for verifiable end-of-waste criteria for materials containing MNMs to prevent cross-contamination of recycled materials and ensure the economic viability of secondary material recovery.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NanoWaste-Declaration-Apr2016.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NanoWaste-Declaration-Apr2016.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NanoWaste-Declaration-Apr2016.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawnddeclaration, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Declaration on Waste Containing Nanomaterials}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NanoWaste-Declaration-Apr2016.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }