It requires cement companies to use domestic solid waste derivatives as an alternative fuel.
SANTO DOMINGO.- After the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies accepted yesterday, Wednesday, in a single reading, the observations made by the Executive Branch to the General Law on Comprehensive Management and Co-processing of Solid Waste, the new instrument is ready to return to the Executive Branch and be promulgated.
The Senate of the Republic approved last Friday, December 5th, in a single reading, the observations made by the Executive Branch to the bill that modifies Law 225-20 on Comprehensive Solid Waste Management, a piece that was returned by President Luis Abinader last November for the incorporation of technical and environmental adjustments
The president objected to at least 19 articles of the regulations, including the one that requires cement companies to use derivatives of national solid waste as an alternative fuel.
The observations were submitted to the National Congress via a 28-page letter delivered to the Senate. The letter suggested revising 19 articles of the bill, adding new text, and making specific modifications to the original wording.
Paragraph I of Article 20 establishes that companies producing “clinker” must progressively incorporate alternative fuels, with the aim of totally or partially replacing the fossil fuels used in their kilns, through duly regulated co-processing processes.
Meanwhile, paragraph II stipulates that the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources must issue the corresponding regulations within a maximum period of six months, starting from the entry into force of the law.
The Executive Branch also proposed the elimination of paragraphs I and II of article 21 of the law, which require asphalt mixing companies to incorporate a percentage of recycled plastic in their production, a percentage that would be set by a regulation of the Ministry of Environment.
Other points observed were Article 3 of the approved law, which incorporates numerals 21-bis and 47-bis into Article 4 of Law 225-20, as well as a paragraph VII to Article 116. This section has been one of the most questioned by various sectors, which request its review, understanding that the provision to establish a solid waste treatment plant for each region could lead to a monopoly scheme.
