Government Decree on waste (No. 978 of 2021).

The present Government Decree contains provisions complementing the Waste Act (No. 646 of 2011). It outlines the responsibilities and procedures for the handling, recycling, and disposal of waste to protect human health and the environment. The Decree mandates the proper packaging, labeling, and documentation of waste to ensure safe storage, transport, and disposal. This includes special requirements for hazardous waste. The Decree describes the responsibilities of waste producers (such as manufacturers and businesses) to manage waste in an environmentally sound manner. In accordance with Section 49a of the Waste Act, municipalities are required to collaborate with the producer organization for packaging producers to organize the separate collection of glass, metal, and plastic packaging waste, as well as paper and cardboard packaging waste, from residential properties. The Decree mandated that food business operators referred to in Section 5, Subsection 1, Item 1 of the Food Act (297/2021) must provide surplus food for redistribution so that it is primarily used as food for people, provided this can be done without compromising food safety and at a reasonable cost. A food business operator is required to maintain chronological records of food waste generated in their operations, as specified in Section 118 a of the Waste Act, as specified in section 34 of this Decree. Annex 1 to this regulation contains a list of procedures that constitute waste recovery, and Annex 2 contains a list of procedures that constitute waste disposal.
The Decree contains 55 sections organized in the following chapters: 1. General Provisions; 2. General Requirements for Organizing Waste Management; 3. Authorities and Expert Bodies and Their Duties; 4. Separate Collection and Recycling of Waste; 5. Accounting and Reporting Obligations Regarding Waste and Transport Documents; 6. Approval and Notification Procedures; 7. Special Provisions; 8. Entry into Force and Transitional Provisions.