Albanian president sends waste management bill back to parliament

Albanian President Bujar Nishani on Friday refused to sign a law on integrated waste management, sending it back to the parliament.

Albanian president's press office said the law was against the country's constitution and international agreements.

Although the Albanian government previously defended the law, saying that only solid non-hazardous waste will be imported to Albania for recycling, Albanian president justified his decision, saying that the new law on waste management violated Article 59 of the constitution of Albania, as well as the EU waste framework directive.

The directive EC stipulates that each country should aim to manage its own waste close to the source of production. There is no obligation for Albania to import non-hazardous waste from other countries, the president's office statement said.

The Albanian parliament passed the legislation allowing the import of waste from abroad last month despite objections of Albanian opposition parties and civil society.

Earlier this week, the Albanian president had two separate meetings, one with the representatives of the civil society objecting the law and one with the representatives of the recycling industry in Albania defending the law.

After hearing their claims, he decided not to pass the bill and send it back to parliament. Endit