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Jadus: Slovakia Could Become Dumping Ground of Europe
Thursday 06 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, May 6 (TASR) - Extremely high prices for waste disposal in western countries of the European Union and the end of the transition period vis-a-vis the cross-border transport of waste next year could make Slovakia the dumping ground of Europe, warns Environment Ministry State Secretary Jaroslav Jadus (LS-HZDS).
"We can't let this happen," said Jadus in an interview for TASR, adding that there is a need to set up a totally new system of waste management. According to the Government Manifesto, amendments in this sphere should focus on reusing waste materials. The Waste Management Programme, which should have been a central point of the legislative process still doesn't exist, however. The initiative for drawing up the documentation was provided only by the fourth environment minister in the 2006-10 election term Jozef Medved. In Jadus's opinion, criticism from towns and villages - who have to deal with waste management - concerning the lack of a programme is justified.
Jadus explained that low prices for burying waste have prompted waste management to focus on dumping. On one hand, this prevents people having to pay high charges, but on the other it could be misused by "old EU-member states". Not only a new system, but also more investments and an increase in environmental awareness is needed.
Despite the fact that the Environment Ministry has often been the centre of attention from the media due to numerous scandals, Jadus doesn't regret working for it. "I came here with zeal, great expectations, and I have to say that I was very disappointed by relations in the Coalition and by the fact that we weren't able to create a dialogue with everybody who could have influenced things," he said, adding that he regrets that many good things weren't completed, and that environmental problems have been overshadowed by scandals.
As far as positive achievements are concerned, Jadus praised the increase in funds for anti-flood protection, good preparation for drawing EU funds and the settling of several legal cases between Slovakia and the European Union.
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