Based on the Waste Framework Directive, national authorities must develop waste management plans and waste prevention programmes, and the Member States must prepare a report to the Commission on the proper implementation of the Framework Directive through the implementation report referred to in Article 37 of Directive 2008/98/EC, in which they provide data on the preparation of the relevant waste streams for reuse, on the state of its recycling, and on material utilisation for each year of the 3-year reporting period.8

EU rules adopted in 2018 created a system of early warning reports, which enables weak points to be detected and action to be taken before the deadline for meeting targets. According to these rules, the Commission, in cooperation with the European Environmental Protection Agency, is responsible for preparing reports on the Member States’ progress towards achieving the target values. In addition, the main country-specific recommendations aimed at improving the preparation and recycling rates for re-use were formulated, in which the Commission formulated actions for the national and local levels. In addition, the Commission also supports Member States’ implementation by other means, such as technical assistance, review of the implementation of environmental protection policies,9 country-specific recommendations of the European Semester,10 guidelines for separate collection,11 exchange of best practices,12 reforms and investments implemented within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Building Facility and through financial support from other EU funds.13 In addition, quite a few preliminary decision-making procedures have taken place, during which the European Court of Justice provides assistance to the courts and authorities of the Member States in the interpretation of certain EU legislation related to waste management.