The Chamber Submitted Several Proposals to Amend the Waste Reform Draft
The Ministry of Climate recently introduced a waste reform draft that proposes significant changes regarding the collection of packaging waste. The Chamber submitted several proposals to the ministry aimed at preventing unreasonable costs for businesses placing packaged goods on the market.
No Packaging Tax in the Waste Reform
A positive development for businesses is that the Ministry of Climate has not included the previously planned packaging tax in the draft, which would have cost companies nearly €20 million annually. The Chamber and several other business organizations have been critical of the packaging tax, arguing that it does not help achieve environmental goals and that there are more effective measures to increase state budget revenues.
Additionally, the Ministry of Climate has considered the Chamber's earlier proposal and abandoned the introduction of a collection or recycling target for sales packaging. This decision helps ensure that packaging businesses do not face opaque or uncontrolled cost increases.
Increasing the Responsibility of Local Governments
One of the significant changes in the waste reform draft is the requirement for local governments to organize the collection of packaging waste in the future. Currently, this task falls to recycling organizations, which provide the service to packaging businesses.
The draft mandates that in densely populated areas, packaging waste must be collected in at least two containers at apartment associations, private houses, businesses, and institutions. One container is designated for paper and cardboard packaging waste, along with paper and cardboard waste, and the other for glass packaging waste, combined with plastic and metal packaging waste. Outside densely populated areas, packaging waste must be collected at its source, at least at apartment associations.
The Chamber submitted several proposals to the Ministry of Climate to clarify the obligations and responsibilities of local governments regarding the collection of packaging waste. For example, it was suggested to amend the draft so that local governments would only be required to collect packaging waste in two separate containers at apartment associations. For other types of buildings, local governments could decide the most reasonable method for collecting packaging waste. The Chamber also proposed adding a legal requirement for the quality of packaging waste collected by local governments. Additionally, it was requested that the law include a provision allowing recycling organizations to refuse to accept packaging waste or demand cost reimbursement if the waste does not meet quality standards.
Consumers Should Pay for Packaging Waste Collection Costs
According to the draft, consumers are required to pay €0.25 per packaging waste container per emptying. The Chamber considers this solution unreasonable, as it does not reflect the actual costs of packaging waste collection and does not account for consumer price growth.
The Chamber proposed an alternative solution, where consumers would fully cover the costs of packaging waste collection, while other costs related to handling packaging waste would be borne by recycling organizations.
Implementation of the Waste Reform
Most of the waste reform draft will take effect in the general procedure, i.e., on the tenth day after its publication in the State Gazette. However, before it can be implemented, the draft must receive government approval and be adopted by the Parliament as law. Therefore, it is not yet clear in what form or when the changes will take effect.