Waste Management Act, no. 24 of 2022.

This Act, divided into thirteen chapters and consisting of seventy-six paragraphs, provides for defining a sustainable planning and standards for implementing waste management, in order to eliminate or reduce the adverse impacts of waste, protect the environment and public health, thus the Act applies to the generation and management of all types of waste; to the storage for recovery, recycling and disposal of waste and of useful substances from waste; to import, export and transboundary movement of waste. The Act aims at achieving the following objectives: reduction of environmental pollution and prevention of environmental damages and risks to public health caused by waste; prevention of waste generation; increasing reuse and recycling approach; improving an adequate waste management system in the villages; increase public-private partnership in waste management; definition of a mechanism for taking action against providers of waste management services, in case of intentional damages caused in the operations of waste management.
The Act concerns: basics of waste management and priority order in determining the choice of waste management method; roles and responsibilities of institutions in the implementing procedures, including: formulation and implementation of a National Policy on sustainable waste management; improving waste reuse and recycling systems at the village and local levels; setting national waste management targets and taking necessary steps at various levels to obtain the necessary financial and technical resources to achieve those targets; conducting research and analysis on the environmental and public health impacts of waste management activities. The Act covers the following matters: sea transportation of waste; waste management from marine vessels; management of waste generated in forest villages; management of aircraft waste; compliance with international Agreements and Treaties; formulation of a National Strategy for reducing waste collection; incentives and subsidies to encourage waste reduction; preparation of a National Master Plan for waste management; provision of waste management services and responsibilities of waste management services providers.
The Act further focuses on: production, import and marketing of single-use plastic products, and measures for its reduction; fees for using plastic bags; targeted measures related to waste handling and transportation, including transport, storage and disposal of hazardous waste; control of emissions related to waste management activities; unauthorised dumping of waste; emergency plan and actions; collecting information, maintaining records and providing information on waste management and disposal; administrative measures and criminal penalties; definition of relevant terms.