Hazards Out! Workshop #6

The Hazards Out community gathered online on 7 October 2026 for the sixth episode of the Hazards Out series of workshops dedicated to the separate collection of household hazardous waste (HHW) in Europe. Workshop 6 “Is separate collection enough? How to improve HHW management” provided a strategic discussion around what is still needed to move from the implementation of the mandatory separate collection towards effective, sustainable and engaging HHW management strategies.  

The event brought together 48 participants representing waste management operators, national authorities, industry, municipalities, academia, NGOs, and other stakeholders. Discussions focused on how HHW management can be further strengthened at national and European level and what further actions are needed to ensure that separate collection meets effective management of HHW throughout the entire value chain. The workshop also provided an opportunity to present the executive summary of the Hazards Out Toolkit​ for the Effective Separate Collection of Household Hazardous Waste​, outlining practical considerations for stakeholders seeking to improve their systems. 

Luis Palomino, Secretary General of ASEGRE, the Spanish Association of Companies Managing Special Waste and Resources, shared his reflections on effective HHW management and examined the Spanish perspective. Although HHW represents a small share of municipal waste, its diverse composition and associated risks require specialised handling. Different fractions from paints and solvents to pesticides, asbestos, automotive products and batteries, need different collection arrangements and treatment routes. Drawing on the Spanish experience, he highlighted the importance of combining permanent collection centres, mobile services, retail take-back and dedicated schemes according to local needs. He also emphasised the operational challenges faced by waste management operators, including unknown or incorrectly labelled substances, incompatible materials, damaged packaging and the need for trained staff, appropriate storage and traceability. 

“Of course, separate collection is not enough.”, he reflected, adding that collecting waste separately does not automatically make it safe to handle or ready for treatment. Operators may still need to inspect, characterise, sort and repackage materials before directing them for appropriate treatment. Mr. Palomino also called for better comparable data on collection performance and management costs. He concluded that “successful separate collection of HHW means fewer hazardous substances in the wrong streams and safe treatment for every collected fraction“. 

Vanya Neycheva, Stakeholder Engagement Manager at NOWMORE and Hazards Out coordinator, presented the executive summary of the Hazards Out Toolkit for Effective Separate Collection of Household Hazardous Waste. The Toolkit was developed through the Hazards Out series of workshops, compiling the stakeholder expertise, European case studies, existing guidance and practical resources to support professionals and authorities involved in HHW management. The Toolkit’s main objective is to support the relevant stakeholders to manage HHW in a compliant, effective, and sustainable way adapted to their specific national, regional or local circumstances and to provide good practice examples from across Europe.  

The Toolkit covers the definition and legislative framework for HHW, collection methods and system design, the potential role of extended producer responsibility, management after collection, citizen communication, and recommendations for improving overall system performance. It is intended as a practical resource complimentary to applicable legislation and existing technical guidance without being a prescriptive implementation manual. The document will be soon publicly available on the Hazards Out website. 

A central conclusion is that separate collection is the foundation of effective HHW management, but it must be supported by other elements planned together and continuously improved through cooperation across the value chain. These include clear responsibilities and coordination, sustainable financing, accessible and appropriately equipped collection points, trained personnel, safe storage and logistics, waste characterisation, appropriate treatment, informed citizen engagement and reliable data. 

The open discussion explored how well Europe is performing in implementing separate collection and ensuring effective HHW management. Participants’ initial assessments indicated moderate to low perceived performance, suggesting that there is still room for improvement. Contributions also highlighted differences between national contexts, including Denmark’s experience with established systems and regular reporting. 

The discussion raised questions about how performance should be measured, whether collection data are sufficiently comparable, and how to ensure that collected waste reaches appropriate treatment. Participants also considered the role of EPR in financing HHW management, particularly given the complexity and cost of managing diverse waste fractions. The majority of the audience shared the view that EPR can be the funding tool needed to support separate collection.  

Workshop 6 reinforced the message that the mandatory separate collection requirement is an important milestone, but its success depends on what happens across the entire chain. By connecting convenient collection with safe logistics, appropriate treatment, clear responsibilities, effective communication and reliable data, stakeholders can move beyond legal compliance towards more effective and sustainable HHW management across Europe.