PenInfo Desk: More companies in the EU will have to pay for polluting wastewater. Pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies will have to contribute significantly to wastewater treatment in the European Union under new rules agreed by EU countries on Tuesday (05 November, 2024).

Manufacturers are to pay at least 80% of the additional costs for wastewater treatment caused by their pollution, according to the new legislation.

The new rules are a tightening an existing EU law on urban wastewater treatment and are to apply to smaller companies and more pollutants including micropollutants which are often the by-products of manufacturing medicines and make-up.

Under the new rules, wastewater is also to be strictly monitored for antibiotic-resistant pathogens, viruses and microplastics.

EU countries will also be obliged to promote the reuse of treated wastewater from all municipal wastewater treatment plants where appropriate, especially in areas with water scarcity.

Tuesday’s agreement was met with mixed reactions by interest groups.

Peninfo/desk/06.11.24/01.28am