Lower house passes amendment on waste law

The lower house has passed an amendment on the country’s waste law which will require Czech firms to more thoroughly record waste imports and archive records for at least three years. The amendment is in reaction to EU requirements and is to help protect the Czech Republic against illegal trade in waste. The country saw several such cases in 2006. Illegal waste dumps appeared mainly in north Bohemia, with waste smuggled from Germany. In the cases, the Czech Environment Inspection imposed fines worth several million crowns to organisers and the state attorney’s office also charged 15 lorry drivers who face up to five years in prison each. The new bill amendment is aimed to avert such situations, requiring vehicles transporting waste to display proper marking. The amendment will now go to the senate for approval and must still be signed by the president.