According to a recent published Commission's report, if the EU waste legislation is fully implemented, it would save €72 billion a year, increase the annual turnover of the EU waste management and recycling sector by €42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik presented the latest Commission's report on the implementation of EU waste legislation. The report shows that illegal waste operations in Member States are causing missed opportunities for economic growth. The Environment Commissioner stressed that stronger national inspections and better knowledge about waste management would bring major improvements. Mr Potočnik also added that if the existing legislation was implemented properly, the EU could avoid costly clean-up operations, pollution and health problem. Another report recently published by the European Environment Agency showed that recycling industry can also boost the European economy.

According to the Commission, the EU's waste management and recycling sector offers economic opportunities with vast potential for expansion. In 2008, its €145 billion turnover represented around 1% of the EU's GDP and 2 million jobs. Compliance with EU policy would help create a sector with 2.4 million jobs and a total annual turnover of €187 billion.

The report also states some recommendations addressed to the Member States, such as the need to know more about waste. It is therefore needed better data and systematic monitoring of how the laws work in practice must be made available. It is also needed a better use of the polluter pays principle, and wider use of economic instruments like raising the costs of disposal. On the other hand, inspection and monitoring capabilities need to be strengthened in Member States according to the report. This could mean establishing an auditing capacity at EU level and, possibly, common inspection standards.