Focus on… Georgia

As reported in May 2019, the concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR) was introduced in Georgia by Waste Management Code No. 2994-rs in 2015. According to Article 9 of the Code, manufacturers and distributors of specific types of products are held responsible for the management of the waste that they generate. The EPR provisions entered into force on 1 December 2019.

For the reform to take effect, four by-laws regulating different waste streams were presented for governmental approval earlier this year. Consequently, four technical regulations were published in the Legislative Herald of Georgia on 27 May 2020:

• Technical Regulation on Management of Waste Batteries and Accumulators No. 324

• Technical Regulation on Management of Waste Tires No. 325

• Technical Regulation on Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment No. 326

• Technical Regulation on Management of Waste Oils No. 327

However, no regulation on waste packaging has yet been sent for governmental approval. The Tbilisi municipality has its own vision for the management of packaging waste, which differs from the plans of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. To date, no agreement on this waste stream has been reached between the two parties.

Georgia is one the countries that Landbell Group covers in its Regulatory Tracking Reports. These reports capture the latest EPR developments and requirements in over 100 countries globally. Find out more here.