The Georgian Parliament is reviewing amendments to the Waste Management Code initiated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. The changes aim to strengthen environmental supervision and introduce stricter penalties for businesses failing to comply with waste management rules and extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations.
Under the proposed legislation, fines will be introduced for a range of violations, including operating without registration, which will carry a penalty of 1,500 GEL for handling up to 10 tons of non-hazardous waste. Failure to register in the EPR registry will be fined 5,000 GEL, while submitting incorrect or incomplete reports will result in a 2,000 GEL penalty.
Companies without an approved action plan within the required timeframe will face a 10,000 GEL fine. Distributors violating technical regulations will also be fined 2,000 GEL. The bill also introduces revised rules for temporary storage periods of certain waste categories, including asbestos, ash, slag, and catalysts.
According to the explanatory note, the reforms are intended to ensure proper compliance with environmental obligations, particularly in waste handling and recycling systems. A 20% reduction in fines will be available if penalties are paid within 10 days of notification. The Environmental Supervision Department will be responsible for enforcement once the law enters into force upon publication.
