The abolishment of the Recycling Fund, the prevention of waste disposal facilities from purchasing scrap metal from individuals and an end to depositing plastics, glass, paper and metals into landfills, are some of the measures included in an amendment to the law on waste. According to Environment Minister Peter Žiga, the changes should help Slovakia adopt modern European waste management legislation. If passed in parliament, the new rules will come into effect as of July 2014.
Žiga said that the amendment will make the waste disposal system more transparent. As he explained, the collective companies responsible for waste will cease expanding, and will operate under the authority of the Environment Ministry.
Moreover, the new law will put more responsibility on producers and suppliers of waste. This will render the Recycling Fund redundant, since it receives fees without having any responsibility. The country currently has enough recycling facilities, and they are sometimes oversized, Žiga said, as reported by SITA.
In order to use the facilities more effectively, the amendment prohibits the disposal of plastic, glass, paper and metals in landfills. Villages will be required to create a site where producers and suppliers collect the waste.
Another goal of the amendment is to establish a new information system pertaining to the movement of waste in Slovakia, and to combat illegal waste dumps, SITA reported.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
