The opposition party SaS has called on Slovak President Petr Pellegrini to veto the postponement of the mandatory introduction of mechanical-biological treatment (MBÚ) for waste. According to SaS, the amendment to the Act on the Protection of Nature and Landscape, which was recently approved by Parliament, will create confusion for local governments and could result in Slovakia facing fines from the European Union. This statement was made by SaS chairman Branislav Gröhling at a press conference in Košice on Wednesday.
SaS has criticized the government coalition's decision, which, with the support of the KDH, voted last week to delay the mandatory implementation of MBÚ for waste before it is deposited in landfills. Gröhling called this decision irresponsible, stating, "The government coalition once again ignores the impact of its decisions on cities and municipalities, which were honestly preparing for the introduction. This postponement pushes the obligation until 2027 and undermines the long-term efforts of municipalities that sought more ecological solutions."
He also warned that Slovakia could face serious consequences, including potential fines from the European Union. "Every citizen will eventually pay for the irresponsible decisions of this government. Slovakia already has serious problems with the amount of waste in landfills, and postponing this obligation only moves us further away from an ecological and sustainable solution," Gröhling added.
Vladimír Ledecký, a member of parliament from SaS, stated that most municipalities had been ready to implement the obligation starting in the new year, and the sudden change had caught many by surprise. "It is not about helping municipalities; it is the opposite. Companies have already purchased technologies and must now pay for them," he explained. He also pointed out that the delay disrupts the process of preparing local regulations and budgets, leaving municipalities uncertain about the best approach to waste sorting.
Marcel Gibóda, deputy mayor of Košice, commented that many municipalities are now confused about whether to proceed with waste sorting or wait. "Today, many municipalities do not know whether they should go ahead with waste sorting, which will be more advantageous for them," he said. Gibóda criticized the lack of communication with the Association of Cities and Towns of Slovakia (ZMOS) and the Union of Cities of Slovakia (ÚMS), arguing that this creates chaos rather than systemic solutions.
The amendment, proposed by the Hlas-SD party, seeks to delay the mandatory introduction of MBÚ waste treatment by two years. Municipalities that are already able to comply with the requirement can begin the adjustment process from January 1, 2025. The law was initially set to take effect on January 1, 2021, but the deadline was later extended. The goal of the MBÚ treatment is to change the properties of mixed waste, either by reducing its volume or lessening its harmful effects, as non-treated waste will no longer be allowed in landfills in the future.
Source: TASR
