Ban of waste imports poses bankruptcy risk to recycling companies

TIRANA, Sept. 24 – The ban of waste imports the new government adopted in its first meeting risks taking into bankruptcy 20 recycling companies operating in Albania and leaving hundreds of workers jobless, the Recycling Association has warned. In a public letter, the association has called on the new government to make the necessary amendments to the law so that at least import is allowed for three main products including metal, plastic and cardboard. “We call on the Environment Ministry, the Council of Ministers and Parliament to find the appropriate modalities in the in the amendments to the law so that metals, cardboard and plastic are treated as raw material for the recycling industry in compliance to the laws and rules of the European Union where we aspire integration.”
The association says it backs the amendment to an article on the ban of import of mixed urban waste to be incinerated for energy purposes.
“If the government will not take into consideration our proposals, then the immediate ban of import of raw materials would have severe consequences for the recycling industry leading to its bankruptcy,” warns the association. Representatives of the association say that a time when integrated management of urban waste leaves a lot to be desired because of lack of solid waste division, the recycling industry is obliged to meet part of its needs with raw material mainly from the EU and the region.
The ban of waste imports was one of the first three decisions the new Socialist Party-led government made in mid-September immediately after swearing-in. This means a referendum scheduled for December 22 by President Bujar Nishani might be unnecessary. The referendum was initiated by the Alliance Against Waste Imports, AKIP, which collected more than 60,000 signatures needed to be submitted to the Central Election Commission.