Illegal Landfill Operations to Be Prevented, Deputy Minister of Environment

The Ministry of Environment has initiated a legislative amendment process aimed at addressing issues in waste management, enhancing the waste management system, and ensuring the continuous progress of legislative reforms. The package of draft laws related to amendments and additions to the 'Law on Waste' and the 'Law on Administrative Offenses in the Republic of Armenia' was presented for the first reading at the National Assembly by Ara Mkrtchyan, Deputy Minister of Environment.

'The law will be supplemented with concepts such as 'waste polygon' for hazardous waste, 'waste owner', and 'waste accumulation'. Principles for effective waste management will be codified, including the classification of waste, the application of hierarchy in waste use, and the responsibilities of those polluting the environment with waste towards reducing or eliminating adverse effects. Through this legislative initiative, demands and main regulations for the licensing of hazardous waste activities will be established, and the powers of the Government and the authorized body will be clarified,' he stated.

The proposed amendments will also include provisions that authorize the adoption of normative legal acts regulating the sector, which will set the rules for waste registration and usage requirements. Additionally, processes for the registration, documentation, and statistical reporting of hazardous waste will be clarified. With the adoption of these projects, it is anticipated that illegal landfill operations will be prevented, and those managing landfills will be more diligent regarding the proper management of these sites.