Following talks and meetings with MPs, we came to the conclusion that we should ban the import of RDF, as we’re not prepared to properly implement regulations, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Naser Nuredini said on Friday, ahead of the start of the parliamentary commission debate on waste management laws.
He added that six waste management laws are up for second commission reading in Parliament on Friday.
“Laws aiming to transpose European standards on managing waste are introducing clear financial obligations for all waste producers, as well as circular economy, selection and recycling, and entail a modern yet strict regional waste management system with minimum amount of disposed waste. This set of laws was drafted with the assistance of national and foreign experts, has been available to the public since 2019 and was discussed at many meetings, three official debates attended by local self-government representatives, communal enterprises, the chamber of commerce, NGOs and citizens, whose comments and proposals were accepted and also made public,” Nuredini said.
However, he added, one issue has recently attracted public interest and caused concern.
“The proposed provision is fully harmonized with EU legislation and the Basel Convention, in line with which we exported vinyl chloride from OHIS and will export lindane, whose extraction is set to start next week. Imported PDF can only be used as alternative fuel. It’s harmless, non-recyclable communal waste that emits significantly lower amounts of CO2 and has a more eco-friendly life cycle than virgin resources, such as crude oil and petroleum coke. Before we’re able to start producing it from our waste, we had the opportunity to import it in lie with EU regulations and circular economy principles. However, I understand citizens’ concern over lack of control and capacities for regular and thorough inspections,” the Minister underlined.
I hope, he noted, that implementation of these laws, which were supposed to be adopted last year, will start as soon as possible, so that North Macedonia is able to start solving its waste disposal issue in a modern and European manner.
