According to experts, in Ukraine – more than 350 licensees for the handling of hazardous waste

State hazardous waste management in Ukraine is ineffective given the large number of toxic substances that are in the environment, so the legislative changes in this area are appropriate. This was stated by the head of the All-Ukrainian Ecological League Tatiana Tymochko UNN.

“Increasingly in the gullies are dumping mercury-containing lamps (Kiev, Chygyryn) in protected areas – abandoned pesticides (Zaporozhye), and in the river poured pesticides (p Konik.) The reason for this is the corrupt schemes of licensing. permitting activities Ministry of Natural Resources, as the license for disposal of hazardous waste businesses give one-day-butterflies, and win tenders companies that have set the lowest price and more “like” the heads of state institutions, “- she said.

According to her, according to official data, Ukraine has more than 350 licensees for handling hazardous waste. However, nobody knows how many of these companies actually have the necessary equipment and experience for the safe disposal of waste.

“The draft Law of Ukraine” On Amendments to Some Laws of Ukraine regarding the management of hazardous waste “№5354 from 11.03.2016 proposed to tighten the conditions for handling hazardous waste and to strengthen control over the issuance of licenses.

In particular, the bill provides:

– Not to allow the transfer of hazardous waste business entities that do not have a license to carry out economic activities for the management of hazardous waste;

– To obtain a license and the business of handling hazardous wastes, you must have proof of affiliation structures and facilities necessary for this purpose;

– To obtain a license and the business of handling hazardous wastes, you must have the right of ownership or other legal basis of the material and technical base. The reliability of availability of the necessary material and technical base must be confirmed documents confirming the legality of the acquisition of such rights and an act of validation of the information provided;

– The need for a positive conclusion of the state ecological expertise on the design documentation for the facilities in which operations are carried out with hazardous waste;

– The need for a positive conclusion of the state sanitary-epidemiological examination of compliance with safety requirements on facilities that are carried out operations with hazardous waste and others.

In our opinion, the adoption of this bill will reduce the likelihood of licenses for hazardous waste management firms that actually exist only on paper. In addition, it will warn dumping cases non-utilized waste into the environment (ravines, gullies, rivers and in the vicinity of residential buildings), “- said the head of the All-Ukrainian Ecological League Tatiana Tymochko.

Recall, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources during the inspection of all businesses that have licenses in the field of hazardous waste management (a total of about 300), found that approximately 60% of the already proven licensees conduct their activities illegally.

The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources O.Semerak also supported the introduction of legislative changes for pre-licensing inspections of hazardous waste heat recovery.

Source: Information Agency “Vchasno»