How to turn garbage into money? He who finds the answer to this question can become rich
Published on 8th Aug 2023
In the consumerism era, it is essential to limit the amount of waste. Storing both municipal and industrial waste is inefficient and harms the environment by emitting pollutants into the atmosphere, soil, and water. The issue of illegal dumps also poses a problem.
The elimination of illegal waste dumps is the responsibility of the municipality, which manages municipal waste within its territory. If such dumps are located on private property, the waste holder is held accountable, ultimately falling on the property owner.
After the amendment of regulations in the field of environmental crime, there should be significantly fewer fraudulent activities. In this context, Dr. Katarzyna Barańska, Partner and Head of the Decarbonization Team at Osborne Clarke, observes:
Illegal waste transportation is subject to a penalty of up to 12 years' imprisonment, which, in light of current events, prompts reflection on whether merely increasing penalties is sufficient, whether the tightening of the law serves as a preventive measure, and whether entrepreneurs engaged in illegal activities fear the consequences outlined in the regulations due to the high penalties.
Increasingly complex regulations and their rigor, such as in the area of waste storage, are not a solution for entities illegally managing waste, as they will not comply with these regulations anyway. While these changes may not necessarily enhance safety in waste management, they significantly impact the costs for law-abiding entrepreneurs who seek to adapt to these changes. I believe we need more control and prevention actions from environmental authorities rather than changes in the criminal code.
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