The State Duma plans to agree on the obligation of manufacturers to fully recycle packaging in 2022

Kogan explained that waste disposal requires proper infrastructure, which is “definitely not cheap,” so domestic fees alone are not enough to finance its construction.

“There was an attempt to introduce extended producer responsibility, but unfortunately today it doesn’t work, almost everything is in the gray area. Obviously, it needs to be reformed,” Kogan said.

The deputy chairman of the State Duma committee recalled that there is already a presidential order on this matter, there is an appeal from the Russian environmental operator, as well as a letter with proposals from Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko. A bill in this regard is currently being prepared.

“The task in the fall session is to figure it out, so that in the end we have one more additional source (of funding – editor’s note), so that the packaging manufacturers themselves are more careful about this,” explained Kogan.

According to him, such a project should, first of all, encourage entrepreneurs to produce easily recyclable packaging:

“When you produce packaging, you have to understand that after the products are used, they end up in the landfill dump.”

Kogan expressed the position that it is necessary to create such conditions so that the packaging that is produced goes less to landfills.

The deputy recalled that this reform has a large number of opponents, especially manufacturers. The main argument “against” is the possibility of an increase in the price of products.

Kogan said that he sees no reason for this: “As an expert, I can say that I don’t see where the price can go up. The containers take less than one percent (of the production cost – ed.), there are containers that take 3 and 5%, but we know very well that the prices are dictated by the market, not the containers.

If there is a strong increase in prices, the competition will always win, because in the end it is possible to produce without any packaging. For example, bulk materials and products.

The deputy expressed his desire that the bill be presented in mid-October. However, he acknowledged that this is a matter of compromise and said that the Duma is ready to wait patiently for consultations on all platforms.

In early August this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to proposals to transfer responsibility for the disposal of the packaging to its manufacturers.

Currently, manufacturers of final products must pay the fee or dispose of the container. It is proposed to establish responsibility for the disposal of the entire volume of packaging from January 1, 2025. Regulations now require that between 10 and 45% of packaging be recycled.

In May 2022, the media wrote that Abramchenko’s office had prepared a bill to transfer this responsibility to those who produce containers. Packaging manufacturers objected. The Association of Manufacturers of Glass Containers estimated the increase in the cost of production of containers at 20-30%, depending on their type.

Ecological forum “Ecosystem. Reserved Territory” was organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and the government of the Kamchatka Territory. This year it takes place from August 30 to September 4, and about 450 young environmentalists from 85 regions of the country participate.