The government supported the bill on the recycling of packaging

The Government Commission for Legislative Activities supported the amendments to the law “On production and consumption waste” prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources. This was reported to Vedomosti by two participants in the commission’s meeting and confirmed by the office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko. The State Legal Department of the President has no fundamental objections, added one of Vedomosti’s interlocutors.

Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko at the government hour in the State Duma on April 19 called this project “the most important and long-awaited” and said that the government would consider it this week.

According to the draft, a 100% packaging recycling standard for manufacturers will have to come into force on January 1, 2027. At the same time, from January 1, 2025, businesses will have to ensure the disposal of 55% of the mass of produced and imported packaging, and from January 1, 2026 – – 75%. The law itself, if adopted, will enter into force in 2024.

The reform has been discussed in the government for two years. Initially, the rules stipulated that an increase in the standards to 100% would come into force from 2025. The current standard implies a 10–45% recycling obligation (depending on the type of packaging).

Under the regulation, according to the updated bill, are manufacturers of goods, including packaging, as well as importers of such products. According to the estimates of the Russian Environmental Operator, about 55,000 legal entities will become subjects of regulation, follows from the materials to the bill.