Debate on waste management law continues

TIRANA, Nov. 9 – The debate over the law on the waste management continued to be one of the main issues this week.
Last week the law was adopted by a narrow majority by the parliament’s ruling coalition, even though President Bamir Topi refused to sign the document earlier, warning that the act is not in line with environmental protection standards.
The opposition Socialist Party has supported the idea of holding a referendum on the law which would allow import of toxic waste from abroadزesulting in environmental damage.
But the government says the law is in line with EU standards and it has reduced the number of waste elements to be imported in the country.
Supporters of environmental protection caution that, after adoption of the law, Albania will become a waste storage.
A private TV station on Tuesday interviewed a spokesman of the EU Enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele who said that Brussels had not urged Albania pass the law as it is adding that they would need the country, looking to become an EU member one day, to have a law on waste management.
Peter Stano said that the law was necessary for the country but also added that “We have not dictated special conditions or articles, moreover the import of the waste.”
The country faced a similar problem back in 2004, when the former socialist government signed an agreement on import of waste from Italy and building of an incinerator for them.
Then Prime Minister Fatos Nano was put under attack by the leader of opposition at the time, Sali Berisha, now the prime minister, and the agreement was cancelled.
Many Albanians have said they fear their country will become the dumping ground for countries like Italy, and held protests outside the parliament in Tirana as lawmakers debated the bill inside.
But lawmakers of the governing Democratic Party secured passage of the law after many hours of debate. Berisha said the law bans the importation of toxic waste.
A youth group, the Civil Assembly, had collected thousands of signatures, including those of two former Albanian presidents, calling for a long-term ban on waste imports.