Biodegradable waste and its management in the Slovak Republic Mgr. Erika Polcerová, Ministry of the environment of Slovak Republic

What is biodegradable waste? The Legislation of European Union: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste and repealing certain Directives defines bio-waste in Article 3 as: „Bio-waste“ means biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises and comparable waste from food processing plants.

Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste and repealing certain Directives Article 22 – Bio-waste: Member States shall take measures, as appropriate to encourage: The separate collection of bio-waste with a view to the composting and digestion of bio-waste, The treatment of bio-waste in a way that fulfils a high level of environmental protection, The use of environmentally safe materials produced from bio-waste.

What is biodegradable waste? The Legislation of Slovak Republic: Order No. 283/2001 of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic implementing certain provisions of the Act on Wastes defines biodegradable waste as: Biodegradable waste shall mean any waste that is capable of undergoing anaerobic or aerobic decomposition, such as food waste, waste paper and paperboard, and garden and park waste, etc.

Order No. 283/2001 of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic implementing certain provisions of the Act on Waste regulates details of the contents of waste management plans. The obligatory part of plan shall include measures for reducing bio-degradable waste transferred to landfills, expressed as units of mass for initial and target year, with the aim of reducing waste quantities transferred to landfills as follows: 1. Up to 9 years from the date of entry into force of this Order (year 2010), the quantity of biodegradable municipal waste transferred to landfills shall be reduced to 75% of the total amount (by weight) of biodegradable municipal waste generated in 1995,

2. Up to 12 years from the date of entry into force of this Order (year 2013), the quantity of biodegradable municipal waste transferred to landfills shall be reduced to 50% of the total amount (by weight) of biodegradable municipal waste generated in 1995, 3. Up to 19 years from the date of entry into force of this Order (year 2020), the quantity of biodegradable municipal waste transferred to landfills shall be reduced to 35% of the total amount (by weight) of biodegradable municipal waste generated in 1995.

Act No. 223/2001 on Waste on Amendment of Certain Act (15 Amendments) – Final Wording – Act No. 409/2006. It is prohibited to: Dispose of biodegradable waste from gardens and parks including waste from cemetery and next to the garden land of legal person, individual and civic associations, if they are part of municipal waste. Municipalities are obliged to introduce separate collection of paper, plastic, metal, glass, biodegradable waste from 1 January 2010

Ministry of environment of Slovak Republic is currently preparing a strategy for implementation of the reduction of biodegradable waste sent to landfill waste, which will provide a baseline document for the tratment of biodegradable waste in the conditions of Slovak Republic.

Thank you for your attention. Your questions please send to the adress: erika.polcerova@enviro.gov.sk