The modification to the General Law of Integral Management and Coprocessing of Solid waste (Law 225-20), recently approved by the National Congress, has aroused a wave of concern in various productive sectors of the country, which warn about the economic, operational and institutional consequences that could lead to its entry into force.
Both the Dominican Association of Cement Producers (Adocem), such as the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR) and the Dominican Confederation of the Micro, Small and Medium Company (Codopyme), have agreed that the new legal framework imposes disproportionate loads, threatens the freedom of business and has been approved without an effective consultation with the impacted actors.
Adocem: Coprocessing obligation violates the freedom of company
Julissa Báez, Executive Director of Adocem, told Free newspaper That article 20 of the project requires the use of fuels derived from waste in cement furnaces, which considered unconstitutional and contrary to the principle of business freedom enshrined in the Constitution.
“That obligation violates the Freedom of company enshrined in article 50 of the Constitution. The use of a specific input cannot be imposed by law without taking into account the technical, economic and regulatory conditions, “he said.
At the moment, he added that in the Dominican Republic there is not even a structured market of alternative fuels: there is no guarantee of supply, or quality or appropriate quantity for coprocessing, which is what is called that process technically.
Adocem has promoted coprocessing voluntarily as a sustainable solution, but warned that it cannot be imposed without technical criteria, Logistic structures and appropriate regulatory frameworks.
He also questioned that article 20, which directly affects its sector, was not part of the Original text of the law and was introduced without a process of transparent dialogue.
AMCHAMDR: Increase in rates lacks technical support and affects investment
Also, Amchamdr expressed his alarm at the projected increase of a 275 % In the special contribution to waste management, considering that this measure does not have technical support and could seriously affect the competitiveness of the national productive apparatus, the investment climate and the economic sustainability of the country.
The entity warned that this burden would have a particularly serious impact on small and medium -sized companies, and also denounced provisions that restrict the freedom to dispose of waste and promote monopolistic conditions, such as the obligation to use a sanitary landfill by region or the exclusion of the private sector of the private sector of the Waste Trust.
“It is essential to safeguard the Freedom of company and promote the circular economy, “said the entity,” said the entity.
Amchamdr also claimed the lack of public views, the need for regulate rates with equity criteria, and include updated technical definitions and effective mechanisms for the management of hazardous waste.
“The American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic reiterated its commitment to a regulatory framework that promotes the Environmental sustainability without sacrificing economic competitiveness. In that sense, he expressed his willingness to collaborate with public and private actors, in order to contribute to a more balanced and effective reform, “he said.
Codopyme: Law threatens to close thousands of MSMEs
The Dominican Confederation of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Codopyme) was even more forceful and categorically rejected the approval of the project, considering that it imposes “disproportionate, inflexible” “loads on a sector that represents 98 % of the Business fabric of the country.
According to the organization, new rates represent increases between 160 % and 500 % With respect to the previous law. In some cases, small businesses will pay 500 to 3,000 pesos, while medium -sized companies will see increases of up to 675,000 pesos, without technical studies or gradual schemes.
“It is unacceptable that a law with such significant economic and operational impacts has been approved without a real process of consultation with the MSMEs sector, which represents 98 % of the national productive apparatus and generates millions of Formal jobs and informal throughout the territory, “the entity warned.
Codopyme He announced that he will initiate legal actions to declare the unconstitutionality of the regulations and promote amparo resources, as well as regional consultations to articulate an answer sector collective.
“We warn that the entry into force of this law, without adequate adjustments or accompaniment, can be translated In greater informalitybusiness closures, loss of jobs and greater inequality, as opposed to the principles of sustainability and development that it supposedly promotes, “said the guild.
Although all sectors consulted value the importance of modern and responsible management of waste, they agree that the approved modification presents serious deficiencies in its technical design, generates economic distortions, excludes the participation of the private sector and was elaborated without real dialogue with the main economic actors of the country.
Both Adocem and Amchamdr and Codopyme They have called the Executive Power to observe the project and open a more balanced review process, which allows an effective, inclusive and fair implementation of the regulatory framework.
They also point out that the provision contradicts the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility contained in the same law 225-20, by transferring the responsibility for the final disposal of the waste to the cement industry, which does not generate them.
The tourism sector binds to rejection
To the concern of cement sector The voice of more than a dozen tourism and hotel associations is added, which also asked the Executive Power to observe the project and convene a Technical dialogueopen and participatory.
The unions, including the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES), Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic, Dominican Association of Real Estate Tourism Companies (ADETI), Dominican Restaurants Association (Ares), Dominican Association of Casual Food and Fast Service (ADECOR), Dominican Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ADAVIT), East Hotels Association (Tame), Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Santiago (Ashorese), and the Roman Hotel Association BayaHíbe (AHRB) and others, expressed their disagreement with a reform that, as they explain, was approved without proper technical depth or impact analysis, and that threatens the Environmental sustainabilitymunicipal autonomy and business competitiveness.
One of the critical points for the sector is Sargassum exclusion as residue in the regulations. The associations warn that this omission prevents its adequate final disposal, although it represents a serious environmental and economic problem for tourism.
They point out that Tourist investments Millions of pesos allocate to face the massive arrival of this macroalga, without effective support from the legal framework.
They also warn that the reform limits the capacity of companies to directly manage their waste, imposes mandatory delivery to local managers, and creates a centralized system with a single sanitary landfill by province and a single plant by region, which – they call – can – can Promote monopoliesraise costs and reduce efficiency.
Another concern is the creation of a special contribution based on the gross income of companieswithout considering the volume or type of waste generated, which disproportionately penalizes small and medium tourism companies.
Finally, they denounce that The law recognizes rights acquired only to landfillsignoring current permits from other valorization plants, which, in addition to violating the principle of irretroactivity, creates a climate of legal insecurity and discourages new investments.
Regarding Waste Management TrustThey observe with concern the composition of the Council, including representatives of the beneficiary industry, which generates a clear conflict of interest.
