New regulations tabled in parliament will end the practice of burning agricultural plastic waste.
The rules require farmers to hand over materials to authorised waste management companies instead.
The accompanying text to the regulations states that uncontrolled disposal and burning of agricultural plastic waste pollutes soil, water and air, contributes to greenhouse effects, severely harms human health and degrades landscape aesthetics.
Officials note there is no alternative to proper waste management, pointing out that burning has been the only disposal method until now, causing significant environmental nuisance.
The regulations establish a comprehensive framework for managing agricultural plastic waste, aiming to prevent and reduce environmental and health impacts whilst conserving natural resources. The initiative also promotes transition to a circular economy through recycling, supporting innovative and sustainable business models.
The new rules will cover more than ten types of agricultural plastics, including greenhouse-covering materials, soil-covering materials, water tank membranes, crop support materials, irrigation equipment and insect protection nets.
Under the regulations, farmers and other agricultural plastic waste producers must separate waste at source and deliver it to collection points. Manufacturers of agricultural plastic products have twelve months from the regulations’ implementation to collectively organise and operate waste management systems.
Additional responsibilities for manufacturers include:
- Preventing waste generation by limiting overall volume and environmental impact
- Enabling farmers to separate waste at source
- Ensuring separate collection of all regulated agricultural plastic waste
- Securing transport to licensed management facilities
- Providing information and training on proper waste management
- Establishing accessible collection points where farmers can dispose of waste free of charge
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