waste has become an important part of eu policy. a framework of different regulations and directives exist to improve the management of waste in the eu and efta countries. eu policy can be separated into product related regulation such as the elv directive, weee directive or battery directive to only name a few, general waste legislation such as the waste framework directive or waste shipment regulation, and treatment related legislation e.g. landfill directive, incineration directive. the product related waste regulation is subordinate to the general waste regulation. an important principle of product specific regulation is that a given product can not fall under the jurisdiction of two separate directives at the same time. for instance, the lead acid battery in an end-of-life vehicle is covered under the elv directive, whereas a lead-acid battery being a replacement part during life cycle of the vehicle is subject to the battery directive.