The Waste Framework Directive (WFD) is a European Union Directive concerned with "measures to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of such use".

According to Article 6 (1) and (2), certain specified waste shall cease to be waste when it has undergone a recovery (including recycling) operation and complies with specific criteria to be developed in line with certain legal conditions, in particular: Article 11 requires member states to "promote high quality recycling".

[1] Article 10(2) of the Waste Framework Directive set out a general requirement of separate collection and obliged member states to set up separate collection systems for at least paper, metal, plastic and glass by 2015.

Article 11 (1) set out requirements for member states to take measures to promote high-quality recycling through separate collection.

[7] According to the EU's guidance, "the combination of terms 'technically, environmentally and economically practicable' describes the preconditions for Member States being, to varying extents, obliged to set up separate collection under Articles 10 and 11 [of the Directive]".