Employers Strongly Oppose State Plan to Control Waste Sorting System (2)

Bratislava, 2 October (TASR) – Employers associated in the Republican Union of Employers (RUZ) strongly reject a proposal from the Environment Ministry, which was approved by the government on Wednesday, 1 October, TASR learnt from RUZ spokesperson Petra Podhorcova on Thursday. According to RUZ, the state aims to take control of the currently independent and effectively functioning waste sorting system by monopolising the operation of producer responsibility organisations (OZV). RUZ is calling on the responsible authorities to immediately halt all efforts to establish a OZV under the Environment Fund, to withdraw the proposal without delay, and to return to a proper legislative process. RUZ considers the efforts of Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (SNS nominee) and his method of attempting to nationalise the extended producer responsibility (RZV) system as unacceptable. „The proposed amendment to the law gives the Environment Fund— thus the state itself — the authority to operate a OZV. This constitutes a de facto nationalisation of a system that is currently functioning successfully under the direction of producers. The recycling rate for packaging waste already exceeds the targets set by the European Union for 2025. Despite this, the state seeks to quietly replace a functioning and transparent market model with a state monopoly,” the employers stated. According to RUZ, under the pretext of “greater transparency,” the state is creating its own player on the market who will spend public resources without competitive pressure or oversight. RUZ warned that if the proposal passes in Parliament, it will have negative consequences for the country. Companies would lose control over fulfilling their legal obligations, and costs would increase. The employers’ union pointed out that the ministry is flagrantly bypassing democratic and rule-of-law principles. It emphasised that the bill was drafted secretly, without expert discussion, social dialogue, or adherence to the standard legislative process. „To bypass the tripartite council, the comment procedure and conflict resolution processes is unacceptable in a country that claims to uphold European values. Employers firmly reject this way of passing legislation,” the union stated. The RZV system is based on the principle that producers pay for the sorting and recovery of waste from their products. These payments are managed by OZVs, which are subject to laws and oversight. However, RUZ noted that the state is ineffective in monitoring so-called “free riders” — companies that do not contribute to the system. The union claims that the state is not using available tools to enforce compliance and penalise non-payers. „We publicly urge the Environment Ministry to finally act in the interest of improving the existing, well-functioning system, to strengthen controls on non-payers, and to increase enforceability of the rules,” the employers added. They appealed to the government to act in accordance with European principles of RZV, maintain the market-based system, and support competition, efficiency, and stability in waste management instead of creating state monopolies. The bill approved by the government is primarily aimed at ensuring more efficient functioning of the Environment Fund. It also proposes that the fund, as a public law entity, should be allowed to perform the activities of a OZV under the Waste Act. The ministry claims this would enhance transparency, competitiveness, and choice among existing OZVs. NOTE: This story has been extended to include paragraphs 8-12 mf