BIH: The Waste Management Act of the Republic of Srpska is being amended through an expedited process

The draft law on amendments to the Act has been published for public review. 

The key changes concern special categories of waste which were previously managed exclusively by the Environmental Protection Fund.

Now, there's a provision for operators of special waste management systems to take over part of this system.

In line with this division of responsibility, environmental fees for special categories of waste are paid to the Fund, except for those categories managed by operators.

Obligations previously prescribed for producers of products resulting in packaging waste now apply to all products resulting in special categories of waste.

Additionally, these obligations now also apply to importers and traders of such products, not just producers.

A regulation is planned to define specific conditions for operators, but it is specified:

•            an operator is an entity authorized by the Ministry to manage one of the special categories of waste,
•            it is established by at least two legal entities or entrepreneurs dealing with products that become special categories of waste after use,
•            profits are invested in building waste management infrastructure,
•            it can have authorized subcontractors.

It is specified that the producer, importer, or trader of defined products introduced for the first time in the Republic of Srpska must pay fees for special categories of waste. These include:

•            plastic bags (except biodegradable ones),
•            batteries and accumulators,
•            motor vehicle tires,
•            electrical and electronic products and equipment,
•            mineral and synthetic oils and lubricants,
•            motor vehicles (except vintage cars and vehicles of diplomatic missions).

A liable party can be exempt from paying the fee if they transfer their obligations to an operator.

The law extends deadlines related to waste landfill arrangements and similar activities, which have already expired or are due to expire by the end of this year. 

Comments on the proposed changes can be submitted to the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska.

You can find the draft law and contact details here.