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With the drafts’ adoption, we expect that by improving the legislative field in the waste removal sphere, an institutional foundation will be created aimed at the five-level subordination of waste application, including the reduction of the generated waste volume, aimed at the removal, transportation and safe disposal of waste generated in the republic’s entire territory, including the sorted collection and processing of recyclable waste. This was stated by the RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Vache Terteryan at February 22 sitting of the Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment Protection.

The rapporteur introduced the package of bills authored by the Government on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on Waste Removal and Sanitary Cleaning and on Making Addenda and Amendments to the RA Code on Administrative Offenses in the first reading. The sitting was moderated by the Chair of the Committee Vahe Ghalumyan.

The initiative is intended to clarify the principles and goals of the state policy in the field of waste removal and sanitary cleaning. The property right in waste, as well as the provisions regarding the requirements for the prevention and reduction of the amount of waste generation, are confirmed.

According to the initiative, basic requirements have been set for the person carrying out waste removal and sanitary cleaning works. A mandatory requirement for the development and approval of local management plans for waste removal and sanitary cleaning has been established by local governments. “This will force our community authorities to clearly describe how they envision waste removal or household solid waste management in the next 5 years,” the rapporteur underscored.

The requirements to the waste removal and sanitary cleaning structures regarding the placement of waste and the operation of landfills have been clarified.

“We have also defined economic incentives, which should be aimed at orderly sorting of waste, reducing the volume of its generation, and carrying out activities for the use of recycling measures,” Vache Terteryan mentioned.

Failure to notify the local government within 24 hours after the owners or users of the plots of land find garbage that does not belong to them in their own territory will result in a fine of three to five times the minimum wage for an individual, and eight to ten times for a legal entity.

The rapporteur referred to the upcoming steps of the Government aimed at regulating the organization of waste removal in the other 8 regions besides Yerevan. “In 2023, we will have a household solid waste management draft for those 8 regions, the implementation of which will begin in 2024.”

It was mentioned that some of the proposals introduced by the Expertise and Analytical Department of the NA staff were accepted, while some of them need an additional debate.

Responding to the MPs' questions, the Deputy Minister noted that after the adoption of the initiative, the complete construction waste management procedure developed by the Government will be implemented.

The deputies raised issues regarding the pollution of the areas adjacent to the landfills, the use of substandard trash cans.

The package was approved by the Committee.