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Newsletter 3: Spotlight on Environment & Energy

Changes in the legal landscape that affect your business

01/06/2021

Application for extension or amendment of a decision issued under the Slovak Act on Waste 

With effect from 1 July 2021, applications for the issue of a decision, extension of the validity of a decision or an application for amendment of a decision issued under the Slovak Act on Waste are to be submitted electronically through the so-called Waste Management Information System (ISOH).  

It is still unknown whether the ISOH will technically allow the submission of such applications on 1 July itself. If not, applications will continue to be submitted via the portal www.slovensko.sk.

Disposal of pandemic hazardous waste 

Because a large amount of hazardous waste is generated in connection with testing the population for COVID-19, a new amendment to the Waste Act has been adopted, according to which the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic may, with effect from 19 January 2021, assign a person authorised to collect hazardous waste from the generator in the amount of more than one tonne per year to receive hazardous waste in connection with measures during an emergency situation.
With effect from 6 February 2021, the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic may, during a crisis situation, assign an operator of a waste recovery facility or the operator of a waste disposal facility to receive and recover or dispose of hazardous waste in connection with measures enacted during a crisis situation.

Ban on single-use plastic products

Single-use plastic products will be banned from 3 July 2021. This ban will apply to cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, sticks for balloons, etc. It will also apply to cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, and on all products made of oxo-degradable plastic.

Deposit on disposable beverage packaging

The deposit system is to be launched in Slovakia on 1 January 2022.The subject of the deposit will be all disposable beverage containers made of plastic and metal with a volume of 0.1 l to 3 l. Disposable beverage containers that are subject to the back-up obligation under the Slovak Act on the Deposit of Disposable Beverage Packaging and are in circulation may be placed on the market until 31 December 2021 or distributed until 30 June 2022 without meeting the requirements of the back-up system.

The administrator of the backup system invited the producers and distributors concerned to contact the administrator in order to conclude a so-called performance contract under the Act on the Deposit of Disposable Beverage Packaging.

Photovoltaics have been green lit again

April 2021 brought welcome changes to the area of photovoltaic and wind energy in Slovakia. The so-called “stop status”, which had been in place since 2013, was lifted. The stop status prevented the capacity of existing sources from being increased and new power generation sources from being connected to the grid.  
The available installed capacity earmarked for photovoltaic and wind power plants totals 407 MW for the entire Slovak Republic. 

It is divided equally among the individual operators of the regional distribution systems – the West Slovak, Central Slovak and East Slovak distribution companies.  Currently, 50 MW of installed capacity is allocated to each of the regions. This limit will be increased, if necessary, up to a total combined capacity of 407 MW. Possible restrictions will be announced three years in advance.  

Detailed information on the release procedures is described in the Guidelines available on the Slovak Electricity Transmission System website, Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a.s. (sepsas.sk). The Guidelines are the result of cooperation between the Slovakian Economic Ministry, the Slovak Electricity Transmission System, and the distribution companies. Information on allocated, exhausted, and available installed capacities is also published on the website.

Authors

Portrait ofNatália Jánošková
Natália Jánošková
Senior Associate
Bratislava
Portrait ofSoňa Hanková
Soňa Hanková
Partner
Bratislava
Pavel Straka