Commentary to Decree No. 381 of 28 July 2014

The system of recyclable materials processing has been improved in Belarus. This is envisaged by decree No. 381 “Concerning additions and amendments to decrees of the President of the Republic of Belarus on measures to improve the system of consumer wastes processing”. The document was signed by President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 28 July.

In particular, the document provides for:

gradual increase in the limits of collection, deactivation and (or) use of wastes for the manufacturers and suppliers of goods and packing in case they apply their own methods of waste collection (from 30% in 2014 to 50% in 2020 for paper, glass and polymer packing, oil wastes, used tires; from 10% to 30% for household equipment wastes, fertilizer elements, lamps, thermometers);

collection of certain kinds of wastes (batteries, gas discharge lamps, glass packing) by retail outlets which sell such products;

reduced rent payments on land plots for the organizations collecting recyclable materials in case these materials are used (processed) in the country;

compiling the register of manufacturers and suppliers; the order of making payments on the bank account of the recyclable materials operator; the rules for excluding companies from this register;

tax audits and administrative procedures regarding the payment for the collection, deactivation and (or) use of wastes and packing after they lose their consumer properties.

Apart from that, the decree introduces amendments to decree No. 313 of 11 July 2012 “Concerning the processing of consumer wastes”.