President Danilo Medina vetoed the passage of the Solid Wastes Bill. The bill had been floating around in Congress for more than 10 years. In the last month of the present legislature, the bill finally passed in the Chamber of Deputies and was sent to the Presidency for enactment.
Diario Libre recently published a report by journalist Marvin Cid on the bill as it was passed. While some articles in the bill are advances, the pro-plastics industry lobby won over the legislators to their positions in the end. As passed, the bill postpones eradicating plastics packaging for at least another five years. Around 10 years ago, the original initiative gave the industry just two years to adapt to environment-friendly biodegradable packaging.
As passed, the bill does prohibit the free-to-the-customer use of plastic bags, but gives another 70 months for this to happen. Foam packaging was given a break. The legislation passed just called for a “reduction” in the use of plastics for packaging.
President Medina vetoed the legislation and returned it to the Chamber of Deputies. He cited several articles that infringed on the rule of law. Since the bill contemplates paying for persons who handle solid wastes, the President said that competent authorities and municipal officials should carry the payments and the processing in each case.
The bill now will have to be again heard in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Most of the current legislators that voted for the bill were not reelected. The Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) as of 16 August 2020 will be majority in Congress. Spokespersons for the PRM have said the first 100 days of government will be used to pass essential bills. It is expected the Solid Wastes Bill will be among those given priority in the first 100 days.
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Listin Diario
El Dia
9 August 2020