WILLEMSTAD - The Council of Advice (RvA) has expressed concern over the lack of updates to the proposed changes to the Waste Tax and Cleaning Rights Ordinance. The proposal, which was originally drafted in 2020, was presented to the council unchanged on June 20 this year. The RvA believes that, given the new government policies, the law may now be outdated.
In its review, the Council highlights that a 2021 recommendation by the Socio-Economic Council (SER) was not incorporated into the proposal. The draft law, initiated by the ruling MFK party, suggests lowering the fee for waste disposal at the Malpais and Koraal Specht landfills, with potential exemptions, while increasing penalties for illegal dumping.
The RvA argues that when presenting a draft regulation, the initiators should update the explanatory memorandum (Memorie van Toelichting, or MvT) with relevant information before seeking advice. They stress that with the government's new waste management policies, it is essential to evaluate whether the necessity of the proposed changes remains, and whether any financial adjustments are needed.
The Council’s opinion also refers to recent developments in waste policy. Notably, in 2024, the Council of Ministers approved a policy allowing the public to dispose of waste free of charge at Selikor’s landfill sites until 2026. Additionally, the government agreed to compensate Selikor for the lost revenue and cover the increased personnel costs due to extended hours at Koraal Specht landfill. This temporary project is expected to cost 6.5 million guilders, with a budget change planned for the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN) to cover the shortfall for the remainder of 2024 and 2025.
The RvA has criticized the government for not considering these recent developments, calling the approach "disrespectful" and "against the rules."