In the ministry, it was clarified that the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system is designed to ensure that producers and importers are responsible for the disposal of their products and packaging after use.
Based on the Cabinet of Ministers' decree No. 322 dated June 19, 2024, a list of 24 categories of goods subject to the EPR system has been approved.
According to information from the Ministry of Natural Resources, this list includes batteries, tires, lubricants, packaging made of plastic, cardboard, and mixed materials, as well as household appliances and other products.
“If your company is engaged in the production or import of the listed goods, you are required to pay the environmental fee. Importers must do this within 15 days after the goods are imported into Kyrgyzstan,” the statement notes.
“Producers must remit the fee quarterly, by the 15th of the month following the reporting quarter. The implementation of the EPR system will be carried out by the state enterprise 'Ecooperator,'” the ministry's message states.
All funds collected from the environmental fee will be directed to the state budget for the development of waste recycling infrastructure and the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies.
Background of the issue
In 2024, the press service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision announced plans to introduce an environmental fee on cars, electronics, and other goods.
The environmental fee is calculated by multiplying the weight of the product and (or its packaging) by the fee rate and the waste recycling standard.
The list of goods subject to the environmental fee was compiled by a government decision and includes:
- batteries (including lead-acid and for electric vehicles);
- cars;
- household appliances;
- machine filters;
- plastic products;
- lubricating oils;
- packaging made of mixed materials such as cardboard, rubber, polymers, and others;
- electronics;
When calculating the environmental fee, the "Environmental Fee Rate" is used, which is determined based on the average costs of collecting, transporting, and recycling a specific product.
The amount of the environmental fee depends on the complexity of recycling certain types of goods and their packaging. The procedure for paying the environmental fee is being developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and is expected to be adopted by the end of the current year.
The ministry has designated this mechanism as the "EPR principle" [extended producer responsibility], introducing obligations for producers and importers to pay the environmental fee for their products and packaging.
“The collected funds will be used for the comprehensive development of the waste management system in the country, including collection, logistics, sorting, storage, implementation of zero-waste technologies, disposal, construction of recycling plants with the extraction of secondary materials, as well as the generation of thermal and electrical energy,” the ministry emphasizes.
