End of Waste Certification - UNI 333/2011 - UNI 1179/2012 - UNI 715/2013


On December 12, 2008, Directive 2008/98 / EC on "end of waste" came into force, tackling for the first time at EU level the end of waste qualification. Art. 6(1) establishes four general requirements that a waste must fulfil at the end of the recovery operation in order to no longer be considered as such.

In particular, the product obtained from a waste must:

  • offer common use for certain specific purposes
  • have a market or a demand
  • meet the technical requirements for the specific purposes for which it is intended and comply with existing legislation and standards applicable to products
  • does not result in its use with overall negative impacts on the environment or human health.

These general criteria obviously needed further specification to become operational. To this end, Article 6 itself provided for the Commission to develop more specific EU criteria for the end-of-waste of different types of materials.

The following EU regulations were created:

  • 333/2011 relating to iron, steel and aluminum scrap
  • 1179/2012 relating to glass cullet
  • 715/2013 relating to copper scrap.

The regulations mentioned before requiring a series of specific activities / controls concerning:

  • Quality of the scrap obtained from the recovery operation
  • Waste used as material for the recovery operation
  • Treatment processes and techniques
  • Preparation of a declaration of conformity
  • Application of a quality management system.

CSI is the body responsible for inspections at recovery plants for the purpose of certifying their compliance with end of waste production.

 Examination of the application and documentation sent by the Company, listed in the "Special rules" specific to the product to be certified. Any deficiencies and significant deviations from the requirements, found at this stage, will be communicated so that the appropriate changes can be introduced before the assessment visit is carried out. Upon request, CSI will appoint an inspector to visit the organisation to verify the conformity of the product, process or service. If the results of the visit include non-conformities or observations, a corrective action plan will be required to meet the requirements for the issue of the product certificate. After all the non-conformities that may have emerged from the assessment visit have been passed, and after the positive outcome of the laboratory tests, certification will be granted. The issue of the certificate will be followed by surveillance visits to verify that compliance is being maintained. The frequency of surveillance visits and laboratory tests, if any, is fixed by the special rules applicable. The certification shall have the validity defined in the specific special rules, on expiry the contract shall be deemed to be tacitly renewed unless terminated by one of the two contracting parties 4 (four) months before the expiry date. Improves the arrangement of organisational processes Attests to an organisation's ability to achieve and maintain stated service standards over time Increases user confidence and credibility Strengthens marketing strategies and opens the way to new markets Tool to enhance the agri-food and forestry sectors, increasing market confidence... Tool to certify the capability of an organization to gain and maintain steadily, service standard declared to the public... Formal act of a third-party body that certify the conformity of the product technical reference documents, marketing deed to enhance and diversify the product... For years the training offered by IMQ group represented a point of reference for professional development and the update of freelance and employees. Second and third-party, inspections and testing: expert auditors capable to understand the situation of the company...