Waste Management Code

Law of Georgia

Waste Management Code

Article 1. Purpose and Objective of the Code 1. The purpose of this Code is to create legal grounds in the field of waste management for the implementation of such measures as will contribute to the prevention of waste and an increase in its reuse, and to the treatment of waste in a manner safe for the environment (which includes recycling and the separation of secondary raw materials, the recovery of energy from waste, and the safe disposal of waste).🔗

2. The objective of this Code is the protection of the environment and human health:

a) by preventing or reducing the generation of waste and its negative impact;

b) by creating effective mechanisms for waste management;

c) by reducing the damage caused by the consumption of resources and by using resources more efficiently.

Article 2. Scope of Regulation of the Code 1. This Code applies to waste of any type, except for the waste provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article.🔗

2. The scope of regulation of this Code does not include:

a) radioactive waste;

b) gaseous emissions into the atmosphere;

c) land (in its original place – in situ), including contaminated soil that has not been removed, and buildings inseparably connected to the land;

d) uncontaminated soil, as well as material occurring in nature that has been extracted as a result of excavation in the course of construction, if it is evident that this material will be used in its natural form at the same site where the said construction is being carried out and it was extracted for the purposes of that construction;

e) wastewater, the pollution of water bodies (including the Black Sea) with wastewater and/or waste;

f) explosive substances withdrawn from use;

g) biomass – faecal matter/manure, straw, as well as other non-hazardous material of similar natural origin, which is used in farming activities, forestry, or for obtaining energy from the said biomass by such processes and methods as do not pose a threat to the environment and human health;

h) mining processing waste – waste generated as a result of work at quarries and the study, extraction, processing and storage of mineral resources;

i) chemical substances of military significance withdrawn from use;

j) uncontaminated material (silt) extracted as a result of operational and rehabilitation measures carried out on amelioration systems, which is to be placed within the right-of-way strips of the systems.

3. The Government of Georgia shall adopt a Resolution on determining and classifying the list of waste by types and characteristics.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Article 3. Definition of terms For the purposes of this Code, the terms given below have the following meaning:🔗

a) waste – any substance or thing which the holder discards, intends to discard or is obliged to discard;

b) hazardous waste – waste which has one or more characteristics provided for by Annex III to this Code;

c) non-hazardous waste – waste not covered by the definition of “hazardous waste”;

d) household waste – waste generated by a household;

e) municipal waste – household waste, as well as other waste which, by its characteristics and composition, is similar to household waste;

f) inert waste – waste which does not undergo significant physical, chemical or biological changes – does not dissolve, does not burn and does not enter into any other chemical or physical reaction, does not undergo biodegradation and does not have such an effect on other materials as will cause environmental pollution or damage to human health;

g) biodegradable waste – waste which is subject to anaerobic or aerobic decomposition, including food/animal feed waste, garden/park waste, paper, cardboard;

h) liquid waste – waste in a liquid state;

i) medical waste – waste generated by medical institutions, medical laboratories, medical research centres, curatorship institutions, veterinary clinics, pharmaceutical enterprises and warehouses;

j) animal waste (product of animal origin not intended for food) – the body of an animal or part of its body, a product of animal origin or another product obtained from an animal which is not intended for human consumption, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and Council of the European Union of 21 October 2009;

k) specific waste – waste generated from a product which, due to its characteristics and wide distribution, after becoming waste requires the adoption of specific management measures and maintenance (packaging, oil, tyres, motor vehicles, batteries, accumulators, electrical and electronic equipment, and others);

l) producer of a product which subsequently becomes specific waste – a natural or legal person who produces, recycles, processes, sells or imports a product which, after the end of its life cycle, becomes specific waste;

m) product – any movable thing, including a thing which is a component part of another movable or immovable thing. Product also includes goods placed on the market (regardless of whether or not it is intended directly for the final consumer) which are supplied or otherwise made available for commercial or non-commercial purposes, free of charge or for consideration, as new, used or recycled. Services related thereto shall not be considered a product;

n) placing on the market – the first supply of a product on the market in the customs territory of Georgia (except for free industrial zones) by local production, import, leasing or other means, for commercial or non-commercial purposes, free of charge or for consideration. Each subsequent supply of the product shall not be considered placing on the market;

o) waste generator – a person whose activity results in the generation of waste (the original waste generator), or a person who carries out preliminary treatment of waste, mixing and other activities as a result of which the characteristics or composition of the waste change;

p) waste holder – a waste generator or another natural or legal person who holds waste;

q) waste carrier – a natural or legal person who carries out the transportation of waste;

r) operator – a natural or legal person who has been granted the right to manage waste collection, a temporary waste storage facility or a waste treatment facility, or a part of such a facility;

s) waste management – the collection, temporary storage, preliminary treatment, transportation, recovery and disposal of waste, the supervision of these activities, measures and operations, and the after-care of waste disposal facilities;

t) waste treatment – the recovery and disposal operations provided for by Annexes I and II to this Code, as well as the preliminary treatment of waste before recovery or disposal;

u) preliminary treatment of waste – the preliminary operations defined by code R12 of Annex I and code D13 of Annex II to this Code, which are carried out before the recovery or disposal of waste;

v) littering – throwing (dumping), discarding (dumping) and/or abandoning waste (wastes) into the environment outside waste collection containers and facilities;

w) prevention – the taking of measures before a substance, material or product becomes waste, which reduces:

w.a) the quantity of waste. This, along with other means, is achieved by reusing the product or extending the product's shelf life;

w.b) the negative impact of generated waste on the environment and human health;

w.c) the content of harmful substances in the material or product;

x) recovery – an activity the main result of which is the use of waste for useful purposes by replacing materials that under other conditions would have been used to perform any function, and which is defined, but not limited to, by Annex I to this Code. Recovery includes recycling;

y) reuse – the reuse of a product and/or its component for its original purpose before it becomes waste;

z) preparation for reuse – a recovery operation (in particular, checking, cleaning or repairing) as a result of which a product and/or its component that has become waste is ready for reuse without any other type of treatment;

aa) recycling – a recovery measure by means of which waste is converted into such a product, material or substance as is intended for use for its original purpose or for another purpose. Recycling includes the processing of organic materials, but does not include energy recovery and the conversion thereof into materials that are used as fuel or for backfilling operations;

bb) collection – the collection of waste, which also includes the preliminary sorting and preliminary storage thereof for transportation to a waste treatment facility;

cc) separate collection – the collection of waste in the course of which waste streams are separated according to types and characteristics in order to facilitate their subsequent treatment;

dd) transportation – the transfer of waste to a waste storage facility and/or to a waste treatment facility;

ee) disposal – a measure that is defined, but not limited, by Annex II to this Code;

ff) waste treatment facility – a stationary or mobile technical or non-technical unit where waste treatment is carried out (including a waste transfer station, another place where such a facility is arranged);

gg) temporary waste storage facility – a facility where waste is stored for a period of less than 3 years, if the waste is intended for recovery, or for a period of less than 1 year, if the waste is intended for disposal;

gg¹) waste transfer station – a facility where waste is reloaded for subsequent transportation to a waste treatment facility;

gg²) landfill – a waste disposal facility where waste is disposed of on land or underground. A landfill includes an internal waste disposal facility (a landfill existing on the territory of an enterprise, on which the waste generator disposes of the waste belonging to it), but does not include a temporary waste storage facility and a waste transfer station;

gg³) existing landfill – a landfill that is in operation at the time of entry into force of this Code;

gg⁴) waste incineration plant – a stationary or mobile technical facility or device intended for the thermal treatment of waste, with or without recovery of the heat released by combustion, by way of incineration through oxidation of the waste, as well as by another thermal treatment process, such as pyrolysis, gasification or plasma treatment, if the substances resulting from this process are incinerated;

gg⁵) waste co-incineration plant – a stationary or mobile technical facility or device the main purpose of which is the generation of energy or the production of a material product, which uses waste as a main or additional fuel, or in which waste is thermally treated for disposal, by way of incineration through oxidation, as well as by another thermal treatment process, such as pyrolysis, gasification or plasma treatment, if the substances resulting from this process are incinerated;

gg⁶) environmental decision – a decision issued in accordance with the Environmental Assessment Code;

gg⁷) Ministry – Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia;

gg⁸) natural and legal persons – persons provided for by the Law of Georgia “On Entrepreneurs” (except Chapter X of this Code);

gg⁹) waste oil – mineral or synthetic lubricant or another type of industrial oil that has become unfit for use for its original purpose, in particular, used engine oil, gearbox oil, lubricating oil, turbine oil, hydraulic oil and others;

gg¹⁰) pollution – the entry into the environment of waste containing a polluting substance, which may cause a harmful effect on the environment or human health;

gg¹¹) resource – any primary or secondary material raw material, including waste, if it is used instead of other primary raw material;

[ gg¹²) integrated environmental permit – the integrated environmental permit defined by the Law of Georgia “On Industrial Emissions”; (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

gg¹³) food waste − food waste defined by the Law of Georgia “On the Reduction of Food Loss and Food Waste and Food Donation”;

gg¹⁴) unauthorised person − a person who does not have the relevant environmental decision, integrated environmental permit, authorisation and/or registration for an activity related to waste management in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

gg¹⁵) extended producer responsibility organisation (hereinafter − EPR organisation) – an organisation created by a producer individually or by producers collectively, having the status of a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity, which is responsible for the fulfilment of the extended producer responsibility;

gg¹⁶) advance recycling contribution – a share contribution paid by a member of the EPR organisation to the EPR organisation for the management of waste generated from the product placed on the market by it.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 - website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 - website, 21.06.2017.

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1692 – website, 14.12.2017.

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2023 No. 3393 – website, 30.06.2023.

Law of Georgia of 4 October 2023 No. 3551 – website, 24.10.2023.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 06.03.2024

Article 4. Waste Management Hierarchy 1. In Georgia, the waste management policy and the legislation of Georgia in the field of waste management are based on the following waste management hierarchy:🔗

a) prevention;

b) preparing for re-use;

c) recycling;

d) other types of recovery, including energy recovery;

e) disposal.

2. When determining specific obligations in relation to the waste management hierarchy provided for by paragraph 1 of this article, the following shall be taken into account:

a) environmental benefit;

b) technical feasibility through the use of the relevant best available techniques;

c) economic feasibility.

Article 5. Waste Management Principles 1. Waste management shall be carried out without creating a hazard to the environment and human health, in particular, in such a way that waste management:🔗

a) does not create a hazard to water, air, soil, flora and fauna;

b) does not cause damage by noise and odour;

c) does not have a negative impact on the entire territory of the country, in particular on protected areas and cultural heritage.

2. Waste management shall be carried out taking into account the following principles:

a) "the principle of taking precautionary safety measures" – measures shall be taken to prevent the hazard to the environment caused by waste, even if scientifically substantiated data do not exist;

b) the "polluter pays" principle – the waste generator or the waste holder shall bear the costs related to waste management;

c) the "proximity principle" – waste shall be treated at the nearest waste treatment facility, taking into account environmental and economic efficiency;

d) the "self-sufficiency principle" – an integrated and adequate network of municipal waste disposal and recovery facilities shall be established and operated.

Article 6. Competent bodies in the field of waste management 1. The competence of the Ministry in the field of waste management includes:🔗

a) development and implementation of a unified state policy on waste management;

b) accounting of waste and maintenance of the waste database in accordance with Articles 29 and 30 of this Code;

c) development of the National Waste Management Strategy and the Biodegradable Municipal Waste Management Strategy in accordance with Article 11 of this Code;

d) development of the National Waste Management Action Plan, coordination of its implementation and submission of the report on the implementation of the plan in accordance with Article 12 of this Code;

e) maintenance of the registration of activities related to waste management provided for by this Code;

f) promotion of waste prevention, separation, pre-treatment, re-use and recycling;

f¹) arrangement, management and closure of non-hazardous waste landfills, arrangement and management of waste transfer stations, taking into account the requirements of this Code and the relevant subordinate normative acts;

g) exercise of state control over waste management.

2. The Ministry, together with the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, regulates the transboundary shipment of waste in accordance with Article 28 of this Code.

3. The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, together with the Ministry, regulates and controls medical waste management in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.

4. The Ministry, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, regulates and supervises animal waste management.

5. The relevant institution within the system of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia issues a certificate of admission of a vehicle for the transportation of hazardous waste.

6. The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the relevant institution within its system, together with the Ministry, shall develop and submit to the Government of Georgia for approval a draft subordinate act/acts which determine the requirements related to the transportation of waste, namely, requirements:

a) for the standards of a vehicle to be used for the transportation of waste;

b) for a container to be used for the transportation of waste;

c) for the experience of the driver of a vehicle carrying hazardous waste.

7. The Ministry has the right to exercise its powers defined by subparagraph „f1“ of paragraph 1 of this Article through a legal entity of private law under its management. These powers may be transferred to another third party by a decision of the Government of Georgia.

8. In accordance with this Code and the Organic Law of Georgia “Local Self-Government Code”, in the field of waste management, municipal waste management (including the development of a municipal waste management plan) falls within the competence of the municipality in accordance with Article 16 of this Code, except for the powers defined by subparagraph “f1” of paragraph 1 of this article and the powers of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara provided for by paragraph 9 of the same article.

9. The arrangement, operation and closure of non-hazardous waste landfills in the territories within the administrative boundaries of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and the Municipality of the City of Tbilisi fall within the competence of the respective bodies of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and the Municipality of the City of Tbilisi.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 – website, 21.06.2017.

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1692 – website, 14.12.2017.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3065 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6921 – website, 28.07.2020.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2022 No. 1449 – website, 24.03.2022.

Law of Georgia of 16 April 2025 No. 489 – website, 16.04.2025.

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2025 No. 664 – website, 13.06.2025.

Article 7. General requirements related to waste management 1. The collection, transportation and treatment of waste shall be carried out according to the types, characteristics and composition of the waste, in such a way that no obstacle is subsequently created for recovery.🔗

2. During the collection, transportation and treatment of waste, environmental pollution, littering and harmful effects on human health shall be excluded to the maximum extent possible.

3. In the event of pollution/littering of the environment with waste as a result of the transportation of waste, the waste carrier shall be obliged to ensure that clean-up measures are carried out.

4. The waste generator and the waste holder shall be obliged to treat the waste themselves or, for the purposes of collection, transportation and treatment, to transfer it to persons with the appropriate right in accordance with this Code and other legislative and subordinate normative acts of Georgia.

5. If waste is transferred for recovery or for disposal, the responsibility of the original waste generator and/or the waste holder shall remain in force until the waste is fully recovered or disposed of.

6. A person who carries out the collection or transportation of waste shall be obliged to transfer the waste for treatment to the appropriate facility which has an environmental decision or has undergone registration.

[ 6. A person who carries out the collection or transportation of waste shall be obliged to transfer the waste for treatment to the appropriate facility which has an environmental decision/integrated environmental permit or has undergone registration. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

7. The waste carrier shall be obliged, before carrying out the transportation of hazardous waste, to obtain a certificate of admission of the vehicle for the transportation of waste, and the driver of the vehicle shall be obliged to carry the said certificate with him during the transportation of hazardous waste.

8. It is prohibited to burn waste outside an incinerator that has an environmental decision.

[ 8. It is prohibited to burn waste outside an incinerator that has an environmental decision/integrated environmental permit. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

9. The conditions for the incineration and co-incineration of waste shall be determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 – website, 21.06.2017

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2023 No. 3393 – website, 30.06.2023

Article 8. Prohibition of Littering 1. It is prohibited to throw (dump), discard (drop) or/and abandon waste in the environment outside waste collection containers and facilities.🔗

2. The organizer of an event shall be obliged to clean the littered territory if it was littered as a result of the event organized by him/her.

3. The municipality whose territory was littered is entitled to demand that the litterer clean that territory. If identification or location of the litterer is impossible, the municipality may impose on the owner of the territory the obligation to clean the territory within a reasonable period specified by it.

4. The obligation to clean the territory of the municipality shall be imposed on the municipality if the said territory is not private property.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Article 9. Extended producer responsibility 1. The direct producer of a product that subsequently becomes specific waste, and the person placing this product on the market, shall ensure that the product is given such a form as will ensure:🔗

a) reduction of negative impact on the environment, as well as reduction of waste generation in the process of production of the product and as a result of its subsequent use;

b) recovery and disposal of waste generated from the product.

2. The obligation provided for by paragraph 1 of this article is fulfilled by creating, producing and placing on the market a product that is intended for multiple use, is technically durable, and the waste generated from which is suitable for recovery and safe for disposal in the environment.

3. The producer of a product that subsequently becomes specific waste, and the person placing this product on the market, shall ensure separate collection, transportation, recovery (including recycling) and environmentally safe disposal of waste generated from the product.

4. The obligation provided for by paragraph 3 of this article is fulfilled individually or collectively – through an EPR organization.

4¹. A producer subject to extended producer responsibility shall, before placing the product on the market, register in the electronic register of extended producer responsibility, which is administered by the Ministry.

4². An EPR organization shall:

a) before starting its activity, submit a corresponding application to the Ministry and obtain authorization;

b) annually, no later than 15 November, submit to the Ministry for approval the action plan for the following year;

c) after the end of each calendar year, no later than 30 April of the following year, submit to the Ministry an annual report on the activities carried out;

d) ensure achievement of the established target indicators for collection, recovery and recycling of specific waste.

5. The Ministry, together with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and other agencies, shall develop and submit to the Government of Georgia for adoption draft resolutions that determine detailed obligations in connection with the extended producer responsibility provided for by this article.

6. The Government of Georgia is authorized to determine the upper limit of the amount of the advance recycling contribution.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 10. Establishment of Charges and Subsidies and Introduction of Restrictions in Relation to a Product 1. For the fulfilment of the task provided for by paragraph 2 of Article 1 of this Code, it shall be possible, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia:🔗

a) to establish charges or subsidies for the use of a particular product;

b) in a special case, the Government of Georgia shall prohibit or restrict the placing of a particular product on the market and/or trade in this product.

2. An action provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be acceptable, necessary and proportionate to the task of this Code and to the objectives for the achievement of which it is carried out. The introduction of such a restriction shall be permissible only after consultation with interested parties.

Law of Georgia of 26 November 2025 No. 1121 – website, 27.11.2025.

Article 11. Waste Management Strategies 1. In accordance with this Code, the Ministry shall develop a national waste management strategy which determines the waste management policy and objectives in Georgia for a 15-year period.🔗

2. The Ministry shall develop a biodegradable municipal waste management strategy which determines the objectives for reducing the quantity of biodegradable waste to be disposed of in landfills and the measures to be implemented.

Article 12. National Waste Management Action Plan 1. To achieve the purpose of this Code and to implement the policy defined by the waste management principles and the National Waste Management Strategy provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 11 of this Code, the Ministry, together with the competent bodies defined by Article 6 of this Code, shall every 5 years develop a 5-year National Waste Management Action Plan, which shall be approved by the Government of Georgia.🔗

2. Before approval of the National Waste Management Action Plan, the Ministry shall organize public discussions, in which the relevant interested persons shall participate.

3. After approval, the Government of Georgia shall publish the National Waste Management Action Plan in the prescribed manner.

4. The Ministry shall submit to the Government of Georgia a report on the implementation of the plan once every 3 years.

5. The National Waste Management Action Plan shall define such environmentally safe measures as must be implemented for waste prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery and disposal.

6. The National Waste Management Action Plan shall include:

a) information on the types, quantity and source of waste generated on the territory of Georgia, and an assessment of the development of expected waste flows;

b) available data on the export and import of waste, as well as a forecast regarding the waste whose import into or export from the territory of Georgia is expected;

c) information on existing waste collection systems and main recovery and disposal facilities (including facilities intended for specific waste flows or hazardous waste);

d) an assessment of the need for closure of existing waste treatment facilities, additional waste treatment infrastructure and new waste collection systems;

e) information on the criteria for determining the location of future waste recovery and disposal facilities and their capacity;

f) information on the location of regional landfills and the timeframes for the start of their operation;

g) planned waste management technologies and methods, including for waste whose management requires a specific approach;

h) measures to be taken for waste prevention and progress indicators for the planned period;

i) organizational matters related to waste management, which include the distribution of responsibilities between legal entities of public and private law carrying out waste management;

j) existing or planned measure in relation to inter-municipal waste collection and treatment facilities;

k) measures to raise public awareness on waste management issues and mechanisms for informing the public;

l) information on historically contaminated waste disposal sites and measures for their rehabilitation;

m) the ways and deadlines for implementing the measures envisaged by the plan, the responsible persons, the estimated costs and the sources of funding;

n) other important information.

7. In addition to the National Waste Management Action Plan, waste management plans for specific types of waste may be developed, such as persistent organic pollutants, mercury, medical waste, animal waste, asbestos waste and others. Waste management plans for specific types of waste shall comply with the National Waste Management Action Plan.

Article 13. Municipal Waste Management Plan 1. Each municipality adopts a 5-year plan for the management of municipal waste generated in its territory. A municipal waste management plan may be developed jointly by neighbouring municipalities.🔗

2. A municipal waste management plan shall comply with the National Waste Management Action Plan and with the waste management plans for specific types of waste provided for by paragraph 7 of Article 12 of this Code.

3. Prior to the adoption of a municipal waste management plan, public hearings shall be held, in which interested persons and representatives of neighbouring municipalities shall participate. The public hearings shall be organised by the relevant municipality (municipalities).

4. A municipal waste management plan shall include:

a) information on the existing system for the collection of waste from the population;

b) data on the quantity and types of collected, recovered and disposed non-hazardous waste;

c) data on the quantity and types of collected, recovered and disposed hazardous waste;

d) information on the location of waste treatment plants;

e) information on the measures planned for the introduction of a system of separate collection and recovery of municipal waste (including biodegradable waste, food waste and packaging waste);

f) plans for the construction of new waste treatment facilities;

g) public awareness-raising programmes on waste management issues;

h) information on existing and planned measures for cooperation with other municipalities in the field of waste management;

i) the ways and deadlines for implementing the measures envisaged by the plan, the responsible persons, the estimated costs and the sources of funding.

Law of Georgia of 4 October 2023 No. 3551 – website, 24.10.2023.

Article 14. Company waste management plan🔗

1. A natural person or a legal entity whose activity results in the generation, in the course of a year, of more than 200 tonnes of non-hazardous waste or any amount of hazardous waste, or, in the case of a natural person, more than 1,000 tonnes of inert waste, and in the case of a legal entity, more than 400 tonnes of inert waste, shall be obliged to develop a company waste management plan. This plan shall mainly include:

a) information on the generated waste (in particular, data on its origin, the types of waste as defined by the waste list, composition and quantity);

b) information on measures to be implemented for the prevention of the generation of waste, in particular hazardous waste, and for the recovery of waste;

c) a description of the method of separation of the generated waste, in particular the method of separating hazardous waste from other waste;

d) methods and conditions of temporary storage of waste;

e) methods used for the treatment of waste and/or information on the person to whom the waste is transferred for further treatment.

2. The company waste management plan shall be submitted to the Ministry. The procedure for the review and approval of the plan shall be determined by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. Upon request, the plan shall be made available to the interested municipality and to another person.

3. The company waste management plan shall be updated every 3 years or in the event of a change in the type or quantity of the generated waste and of substantial changes in the treatment process.

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1692 – website, 14.12.2017.

Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6751 – website, 20.07.2020.

Article 15. Environmental manager 1. A person provided for by Article 14 of this Code shall be obliged to designate an environmental manager. Information on his/her identity (in particular, the first name and surname of the environmental manager) shall be sent to the Ministry immediately.🔗

2. The waste-related duties of the environmental manager are:

a) preparation and updating of the company waste management plan;

b) organisation of the implementation of the company waste management plan;

c) exercise of internal control over compliance with the requirements of the legislation of Georgia in the field of waste management.

3. The duties of the environmental manager provided for by paragraph 2 of this article shall not reduce the company's obligation to comply with the requirements of this Code and of the subordinate normative acts deriving therefrom.

Article 16. Collection and treatment of municipal waste🔗

1. The municipality shall ensure:

a) collection of municipal waste and, for this purpose, the introduction and proper functioning of a municipal waste collection system;

b) the phased introduction and proper functioning of a separate collection system for municipal waste.

2. The generator of municipal waste shall be obliged to make the municipal waste generated by it available to the executive body of the municipality or to a person authorised by it, where a waste collection system exists.

3. The generator of municipal waste, except for the population, is entitled not to use the service of the executive body of the municipality or of a person authorised by it for waste collection and to hand over the municipal waste generated by it for collection and treatment to the person which, in accordance with this Code, has been granted the right to collect and treat waste. In such case, the waste generator shall be obliged to notify the relevant municipality thereof in advance.

4. Where the municipality introduces a separate collection system for waste, the generator of municipal waste shall be obliged to use this system.

5. Collection and treatment of municipal waste shall be carried out in accordance with the Resolution of the Government of Georgia "On the Rules for the Collection and Treatment of Municipal Waste".

6. Municipalities are entitled to create, introduce and manage a joint municipal waste management system.

7. A person carrying out the collection, transportation and/or treatment of waste shall have an environmental decision or shall have undergone registration in accordance with Chapter VII of this Code.

Law of Georgia No. 898 of 1 June 2017 – website, 21.06.2017.

Law of Georgia No. 6921 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 17. Main obligations related to the management of hazardous waste🔗

1. The generation, collection and transportation of hazardous waste, as well as its treatment and storage, shall be carried out in such a way as to ensure the protection of the environment and human health.

2. It is prohibited:

a) to litter the environment with hazardous waste outside a waste collection container;

b) to discharge hazardous waste into the sewerage system or into underground and/or surface waters (including the sea);

c) to burn hazardous waste outside an incinerator holding an environmental decision;

d) to treat hazardous waste outside a waste treatment facility holding an environmental decision.

3. The population shall be obliged to place the municipal hazardous waste generated by it in special containers allocated for this purpose by the municipality, where such exist.

Law of Georgia No. 898 of 1 June 2017 – website, 21.06.2017.

Article 18. Special obligations related to hazardous waste management 1. A waste generator that generates more than 2 tonnes of hazardous waste during the year shall be obliged to:🔗

a) create and implement a system for the separation and collection of hazardous waste;

b) in accordance with Article 15 of this Code, designate an environmental manager who will be responsible for taking appropriate measures for the safe management of hazardous waste;

c) ensure that personnel working with hazardous waste are informed and that appropriate training is conducted.

1¹. The obligations provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall also be imposed on a generator of less than 2 tonnes of hazardous waste during the year that carries out an activity defined by order of the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

2. Before the exact composition of the waste is determined, such waste shall be considered hazardous.

3. If there is no technical and/or technological capability for the treatment of hazardous waste on the territory of Georgia, their export shall be carried out for the treatment of hazardous waste. Before the export is carried out, the safe storage of hazardous waste at a temporary storage facility in accordance with the procedure established by this Code shall be mandatory.

4. In the case provided for by paragraph 3 of this Article, by decision of the Ministry, the period of temporary storage of hazardous waste may be extended once, by not more than 1 year, if it is confirmed that this will not cause harm to the environment and human health.

5. The collection and transportation of hazardous waste shall be carried out by a natural or legal person registered in accordance with this Code.

6. The transportation of hazardous waste shall be carried out in accordance with the requirement of paragraph 1 of Article 17 of this Code and the subordinate act/acts provided for by paragraph 6 of Article 6.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13 July 2016.

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1692 – website, 14 December 2017.

Article 19. Prohibition of mixing hazardous waste with other waste 1. The mixing of hazardous waste with other types of hazardous waste or with other waste, substances or materials is prohibited (except for the case provided for by paragraph 3 of Article 17 of this Code). Mixing includes the dilution of hazardous substances.🔗

2. As an exception to paragraph 1 of this Article, the mixing of hazardous waste shall be possible only where prior written consent of the Ministry exists, if the consent has been requested by the operator and the mixing will not cause harm to the environment and human health.

Article 20. Special requirements for the collection and treatment of hazardous waste 1. Special requirements for the collection and treatment of hazardous waste shall be determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.🔗

2. The Resolution provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall determine, along with other requirements:

a) mechanisms for the traceability of hazardous waste from their generation to their final disposal;

b) requirements for the packaging and labelling of hazardous waste;

c) requirements for a temporary storage facility for hazardous waste;

d) requirements for waste of persistent organic pollutants;

e) requirements for such hazardous waste as waste oil, asbestos waste and others.

Article 21. Categories of landfill 1. A landfill shall be divided into the following categories:🔗

a) landfill for hazardous waste;

b) landfill for non-hazardous waste;

c) landfill for inert waste.

2. Hazardous waste shall be disposed of only in a landfill for hazardous waste.

3. Only municipal waste and other non-hazardous waste that meet the criteria for the acceptance of waste at a landfill of this category determined by the Resolution adopted under Article 22 of this Code shall be disposed of in a landfill for non-hazardous waste.

4. The operator of a landfill for non-hazardous waste shall be obliged to accept municipal waste generated in the territory of the respective municipality, including from the person provided for by paragraph 3 of Article 16 of this Code.

5. Only inert waste shall be disposed of in a landfill for inert waste.

5¹. Inert waste that is suitable for filling operations or for construction purposes may not be disposed of in a landfill if, in agreement with a state or municipal body, it is used for filling operations or for the construction purposes provided for by the project. In this case, the requirements of Article 24 of this Code shall not apply.

6. Only treated waste may be disposed of in a landfill with an environmental decision. This shall not apply to inert waste whose treatment cannot be technically carried out, as well as to waste for which the goal of this Code cannot be achieved by technically feasible treatment.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 – website, 21.06.2017.

Article 22. Requirements related to the construction, operation, closure and after-care of a landfill 1. The following shall be determined by Resolution of the Government of Georgia on the construction, operation, closure and after-care of a landfill:🔗

a) technical and other requirements for the construction of a landfill;

b) technical and other requirements for the operation of a landfill, including requirements related to the application of waste acceptance criteria at landfills of different categories and to monitoring;

c) technical and other requirements for the closure and after-care of a landfill;

d) requirements to be fulfilled and measures to be implemented by the landfill operator for the prevention of damage to the environment and human health.

2. The acceptance at a landfill of waste that does not meet the criteria determined by the Resolution provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be inadmissible.

Article 23. Existing landfill 1. A landfill existing at the time of entry into force of this Code shall continue to operate if it has a permit issued in accordance with the Law of Georgia “On Environmental Impact Permit”. The holder of this permit shall, after the entry into force of the Environmental Assessment Code, be obliged to request the issuance of an environmental decision in the manner established by paragraph 4 of Article 48 of the Environmental Assessment Code.🔗

2. If an existing landfill does not have the permit provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, the landfill operator shall, within 18 months from the adoption of the Resolution of the Government of Georgia “On the Arrangement, Operation, Closure and After-care of Landfills”, agree with the Ministry on a plan for bringing the landfill into compliance with the conditions defined by this Resolution. During the said period, the landfill shall continue to operate.

3. The Ministry shall review the documentation submitted by the landfill operator for the continuation of the landfill's operation and, taking into account the conditions defined by the Resolution of the Government of Georgia “On the Arrangement, Operation, Closure and After-care of Landfills”, shall adopt one of the following decisions:

a) if the existing landfill poses a serious risk to the environment and human health and it is impossible for the landfill operator to avert this risk, it shall be closed no later than 4 years from the entry into force of this Code. Within the same period, a landfill for which no compliance plan for the purpose of continuing operation has been submitted shall be closed;

b) if the existing landfill does not pose a serious risk to the environment and human health, but it is impossible to bring it into compliance with the requirements of this Code and the resolutions deriving therefrom, it shall continue to operate under the conditions established by the Ministry. Such a landfill shall be closed no later than 8 years from the entry into force of the resolution provided for by this Article;

c) if it is possible to bring the existing landfill into compliance with the requirements of this Code and the resolutions deriving therefrom, it may be granted the right to continue its activity for the requested period.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 – website, 21.06.2017.

Article 24. Activities related to waste treatment that are subject to an environmental decision🔗

1. Activities provided for by the Code of Environmental Assessment shall be subject to an environmental decision.

2. The list of documents to be submitted to the authorised administrative body for obtaining the environmental decision provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article and the requirements as to their content shall be determined by this Code, the Code of Environmental Assessment and the sub-legislative normative acts adopted and issued on their basis.

3. If a person carries out more than one activity provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article and these activities are substantially related to each other, the said person shall be entitled to request the adoption of a single environmental decision.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 – website, 21.06.2017

[Article 24. Activities related to waste treatment that are subject to an environmental decision/an integrated environmental permit

1. Activities provided for by the Code of Environmental Assessment shall be subject to an environmental decision, while activities provided for by the Law of Georgia on Industrial Emissions shall be subject to an integrated environmental permit.

2. The list of documents to be submitted to the authorised administrative body for obtaining the environmental decision/an integrated environmental permit provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article and the requirements as to their content shall be determined by this Code, the Code of Environmental Assessment, the Law of Georgia on Industrial Emissions and the sub-legislative normative acts adopted and issued on their basis.

3. If a person carries out more than one activity provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article and these activities are substantially related to each other, the said person shall be entitled to request the adoption of a single environmental decision/an integrated environmental permit. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2023 No. 3393 – website, 30.06.2023

Article 25. Information to be submitted for obtaining an environmental decision for carrying out activities related to waste treatment🔗

For obtaining an environmental decision for carrying out activities related to waste treatment, the following information, in addition to the information provided for by the Environmental Assessment Code, shall be submitted to the authorized administrative body:

a) the type of waste to be treated (code and name in accordance with the Resolution adopted on the basis of paragraph 3 of Article 2 of this Code);

b) the quantity and origin of the waste to be treated;

c) the codes and descriptions of waste recovery or disposal operations in accordance with Annex I or II to this Code;

d) the means and equipment to be used, as well as their capacity;

e) information provided for by the legislation of Georgia on the landfill to be arranged.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 – website, 21 June 2017.

[Article 25. Information to be submitted for carrying out activities related to waste treatment for obtaining an environmental decision/integrated environmental permit

For carrying out activities related to waste treatment, for obtaining an environmental decision/integrated environmental permit, the following information, in addition to the information provided for by the Environmental Assessment Code or the Law of Georgia on Industrial Emissions, shall be submitted to the authorized administrative body:

a) the type of waste to be treated (code and name in accordance with the Resolution adopted on the basis of paragraph 3 of Article 2 of this Code);

b) the quantity and origin of the waste to be treated;

c) the codes and descriptions of waste recovery or disposal operations in accordance with Annex I or II to this Code;

d) the means and equipment to be used, as well as their capacity;

e) information provided for by the legislation of Georgia on the landfill to be arranged. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2023 No. 3393 – website, 30 June 2023.

Article 26. Registration of activities related to waste management🔗

1. The following activities related to waste management shall be subject to registration:

a) collection and/or transportation of waste;

b) arrangement and operation of a temporary storage facility for more than 50 tonnes of non-hazardous waste;

c) pre-treatment of up to 100 tonnes of non-hazardous waste per year;

d) arrangement and operation of a temporary storage facility for not less than 2 tonnes and not more than 10 tonnes of hazardous waste;

e) arrangement and operation of a waste transfer station;

f) recovery/disposal of up to 10 tonnes of non-hazardous waste per year;

g) activity related to waste management provided for by Annex II to the Environmental Assessment Code, which, on the basis of a screening decision, was not subject to the environmental impact assessment procedure.

2. (Removed - 21.02.2024, No. 4041).

3. The rules and conditions for registration of collection, transportation, pre-treatment and temporary storage of waste shall be determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 06.03.2024.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 788 – website, 04.07.2025.

Article 27. Register of environmental decisions and registrations — the environmental decisions and registrations issued for activities provided for by this Code shall be reflected in the waste database in accordance with Article 30 of this Code.🔗

[Article 27. Register of environmental decisions/integrated environmental permits and registrations of activities

The environmental decisions/integrated environmental permits and registrations issued for activities provided for by this Code shall be reflected in the waste database in accordance with Article 30 of this Code. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2023 No. 3393 – website, 30.06.2023.

Article 28. Transboundary movement of waste — the import, export and transit of waste (transboundary movement of waste) shall be regulated taking into account the requirements and procedures of the Law of Georgia "On Import, Export and Transit of Waste" and of the Basel Convention of 22 March 1989 "On the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal".🔗

Law of Georgia of 13 April 2016 No. 4956 - website, 26.04.2016.

Article 29. Obligation of waste accounting and reporting 1. The obligation of waste accounting and of corresponding reporting to the Ministry shall be borne by:🔗

a) persons carrying out the activities provided for by Articles 24 and 26 of this Code;

b) a waste generator whose entrepreneurial activity results in the generation of more than 2 tonnes of non-hazardous waste (except municipal waste) per year or of any quantity of hazardous waste.

2. The persons defined by the same paragraph shall retain the data on waste provided for by the first paragraph of this Article for 3 years. This requirement shall not apply to a landfill operator. It shall be obliged to retain the said data until the expiry of the landfill's operation period and during the post-closure maintenance period of the landfill.

3. The obligation of waste accounting and reporting shall not be borne by the population.

4. The form and content of waste accounting and of reporting shall be determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Article 30. Waste database The Ministry shall maintain and update the waste database, which includes:🔗

a) the data provided for by Article 29 of this Code;

b) information on the persons to whom an environmental decision was issued in accordance with Article 24 of this Code;

c) information on the persons whose activity was subject to registration in accordance with Article 26 of this Code.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 – website, 21.06.2017.

[Article 30. Waste database

The Ministry shall maintain and update the waste database, which includes:

a) the data provided for by Article 29 of this Code;

b) information on the persons to whom an environmental decision/integrated environmental permit was issued in accordance with Article 24 of this Code;

c) information on the persons whose activity was subject to registration in accordance with Article 26 of this Code. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2023 No. 3393 – website, 30.06.2023.

Article 31. Littering the environment with municipal waste 1. Littering the environment with up to 2 kg of municipal waste – shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 80.🔗

2. The same act committed from a residential house or other building or structure – shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 200.

3. The same act committed from a motor vehicle – shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 250 for the driver, and in the case of public transport, for the respective violator.

4. Littering the environment with up to 5 units of tyres (except for bicycle tyres) –

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 500.

5. Littering the environment with 5 units or more than 5 units of tyres (except for bicycle tyres) –

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 2,000.

6. Littering the environment with waste of up to 2 kg of batteries, accumulators, electric lamps, electrical goods, graphite electrodes, sharp or piercing objects (including glass shards, nails or other similar objects) –

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 500.

7. Littering the environment with 2 kg or more than 2 kg of municipal waste (except for the case provided for by paragraph 8 of this Article) –

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 500 for a natural person and a fine in the amount of GEL 1,500 for a legal entity.

8. Littering the environment with municipal waste of a volume of more than 1 m³ –

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 1,000 for a natural person and a fine in the amount of GEL 3,000 for a legal entity.

9. Littering the environment with large-volume waste (including with waste of a vehicle, electrical or electrotechnical unit, construction unit or other similar device) –

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 2,000 for a natural person and a fine in the amount of GEL 6,000 for a legal entity.

10. Placing waste in a waste collection container designated by an act of the representative body of the municipality not in accordance with its designated purpose (including placement in a container for municipal non-hazardous waste) –

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 200 for a natural person and a fine in the amount of GEL 1,000 for a legal entity.

Note:

1. Waste shall be considered large-volume waste provided for by paragraph 9 of this Article if it covers an area of more than 2 m².

2. If, in the case of throwing household waste onto a road from the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle (except public transport) provided for by paragraph 3 of this Article, a patrol police officer, an executive body of a municipality or a person authorised by it, or an authorised employee of an institution within the system of the Ministry, has not drawn up on the spot a protocol (fine receipt) on the administrative offence or has not imposed an administrative penalty on the driver of the motor vehicle, and the fact of the administrative offence is recorded on video and/or photo, the payment of the fine provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be imposed on the owner of the motor vehicle, to whom the resolution on the imposition of the administrative penalty shall be sent according to the place of registration.

3. In the cases provided for by paragraphs 1–7 of this Article, the person in respect of whom a protocol on the administrative offence has been drawn up shall be obliged to immediately clean the territory littered with municipal waste.

Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6751 – website, 20.07.2020.

Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6921 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 32. Littering of the environment with construction waste or other inert waste 1. Littering of the environment with construction waste or other inert waste of a volume of up to 1 m³ – shall entail the imposition of a fine on a natural person in the amount of GEL 500, and the imposition of a fine on a legal entity in the amount of GEL 2,000.🔗

2. Littering of the environment with construction waste or other inert waste of a volume from 1 m³ to 10 m³ – shall entail the imposition of a fine on a natural person in the amount of GEL 1,500, and the imposition of a fine on a legal entity in the amount of GEL 3,000.

3. Littering of the environment with construction waste or other inert waste of a volume from 10 m³ to 50 m³ – shall entail the imposition of a fine on a natural person in the amount of GEL 5,000, and the imposition of a fine on a legal entity in the amount of GEL 15,000.

4. Littering of the environment with construction waste or other inert waste of a volume of 50 m³ or more than 50 m³ – shall entail the imposition of a fine on a natural person in the amount of GEL 15,000, and the imposition of a fine on a legal entity in the amount of GEL 30,000.

Note: In the case provided for by this Article, the person in respect of whom a protocol on the administrative offence has been drawn up shall be obliged to clean, immediately or within the reasonable time limit specified, the territory littered with construction waste or other inert waste.

Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6751 – website, 20.07.2020.

Article 33. Pollution of territory with faecal mass and/or sewage and/or sludge-like waste 1. Pollution of territory with a small amount of faecal mass of a dog or other domestic animal – shall result in the fining of a person in the amount of GEL 100.🔗

2. Pollution of territory with faecal mass and/or sewage and/or sludge-like waste of a volume of up to 1 m³ – shall result in the fining of a natural person in the amount of GEL 400, and the fining of a legal entity − in the amount of GEL 1,500.

3. Pollution of territory with faecal mass and/or sewage and/or sludge-like waste of a volume of 1 m³ or more than 1 m³ – shall result in the fining of a natural person in the amount of GEL 500, and the fining of a legal entity − in the amount of GEL 2,000.

Note:

1. The liability provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be imposed on a person for actions carried out in the territories of settlements defined by a normative act of the representative body of the respective municipality.

2. The liability provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be imposed on the owner of a dog or other domestic animal if he/she immediately and fully cleans the territory polluted with faecal masses.

Law of Georgia No. 6751 of 13 July 2020 – website, 20.07.2020.

Law of Georgia No. 4041 of 21 February 2024 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 34. Littering/pollution of the environment with animal body remains 1. Littering of the environment with animal body remains of up to 20 kg (including from a slaughterhouse) (except for the case provided for by paragraph 3 of this Article) –🔗

shall result in the fining of a natural person in the amount of GEL 500, and the fining of a legal entity − in the amount of GEL 1,500.

2. Littering of the environment with animal body remains of 20 kg or more than 20 kg (including from a slaughterhouse) – shall result in the fining of a natural person in the amount of GEL 1,000, the fining of a legal entity in the amount of GEL 2,000.

3. Pollution of the environment with animal blood generated as a result of entrepreneurial activity −

shall result in the fining of a natural person in the amount of GEL 500, and the fining of a legal entity − in the amount of GEL 1,500.

Note: In the case provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, the person in respect of whom a protocol on an administrative offence has been drawn up shall be obliged to immediately clean the territory littered with animal body remains. For the purposes of this Article, the placement of animal remains in a municipal waste container shall also be considered littering of the environment.

Law of Georgia No. 6751 of 13 July 2020 – website, 20.07.2020.

Law of Georgia No. 4041 of 21 February 2024 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 35. Burning of municipal non-hazardous waste in the open or in a non-designated fuel installation 1. Burning of municipal non-hazardous waste (leaves, garden/park waste, household waste) in the open or in a non-designated fuel installation –🔗

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 500.

2. Burning of municipal non-hazardous waste (except for the waste provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article) (including tyres, rubber and other elastomeric material) in the open or in a non-designated fuel installation –

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 1,500.

Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6751 – website, 20.07.2020.

Article 35¹. Transfer of waste to an unauthorized person 1. Transfer of non-hazardous waste by an entrepreneur holding the waste to an unauthorized person for the purpose of collection, transportation and treatment –🔗

shall result in a fine of the entrepreneur holding the non-hazardous waste in the amount of GEL 1,000.

2. Transfer of hazardous waste by an entrepreneur holding the waste to an unauthorized person for the purpose of collection, transportation and treatment –

shall result in a fine of the entrepreneur holding the hazardous waste in the amount of GEL 2,000.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 36. Failure to comply with requirements and obligations related to hazardous waste management🔗

1. Discharge/dumping of hazardous waste into the sewerage system or into underground and/or surface waters – shall result in a fine of a natural person in the amount of GEL 5,000, and a fine of a legal entity in the amount of GEL 10,000.

2. Pollution of the environment with hazardous waste or another act committed outside a waste collection container, as well as placement of hazardous waste generated as a result of entrepreneurial activity in a non-designated container (including in a container for municipal non-hazardous waste) – shall result in a fine of a natural person in the amount of GEL 5,000, a fine of a legal entity in the amount of GEL 10,000.

3. Burning of hazardous waste outside an incinerator with an environmental decision – shall result in a fine of a natural person in the amount of GEL 500, a fine of a legal entity in the amount of GEL 1,500.

4. Treatment of hazardous waste outside a waste treatment facility with an environmental decision – shall result in a fine of a natural person in the amount of GEL 500, a fine of a legal entity in the amount of GEL 1,500.

5. (removed - 21.02.2024, No. 4041).

Note: For the purposes of this Article, the cost of conducting the appointed expert examination, if the said expert examination has recognized the waste as hazardous, shall be reimbursed by the person in respect of whom the protocol on the administrative offence has been drawn up.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 - website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 - website, 21.06.2017.

Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6751 – website, 20.07.2020.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 37. Contamination or pollution of the environment with waste during transportation of waste 1. During transportation of non-hazardous waste, contamination or pollution of the environment with non-hazardous waste – shall result in a fine of GEL 200 imposed on a natural person and a fine of GEL 400 imposed on a legal entity.🔗

2. During transportation of hazardous waste, contamination or pollution of the environment with hazardous waste – shall result in a fine of GEL 350 imposed on a natural person and a fine of GEL 800 imposed on a legal entity.

Article 38. Violation of the rules for transportation of waste 1. Violation of the rules for transportation of non-hazardous waste – shall result in a fine of GEL 200.🔗

2. Violation of the rules for transportation of hazardous waste – shall result in a fine of GEL 400.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Article 39. Mixing of hazardous waste with other waste, substances or materials 1. Mixing by the operator of less than 20 kg of hazardous waste with other waste, substances or materials without the prior written consent of the Ministry – shall result in a fine of GEL 500 imposed on a natural person and a fine of GEL 1 000 imposed on a legal entity.🔗

2. Mixing by the operator of 20 kg or more of hazardous waste with other waste, substances or materials without the prior written consent of the Ministry – shall result in a fine of GEL 1 000 imposed on a natural person and a fine of GEL 3 000 imposed on a legal entity.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6751 – website, 20.07.2020.

Article 40. Violation of the rules and conditions for registration of collection, transportation, pre-treatment and temporary storage of waste1. Collection and/or transportation of waste without registration in accordance with the established procedure –🔗

shall result in a fine of GEL 1000.

2. Arrangement and operation of a facility for pre-treatment of non-hazardous waste without registration in accordance with the established procedure – shall result in a fine of GEL 2000.

3. (removed – 21 February 2024, No. 4041).

4. Arrangement and operation of a waste transfer station without registration in accordance with the established procedure – shall result in a fine of GEL 2000.

4¹. Arrangement and operation of a facility for temporary storage of more than 50 tonnes of non-hazardous waste without registration in accordance with the established procedure – shall result in a fine of GEL 2000.

5. Failure to comply with the registration conditions provided for by this Code –

shall result in a fine of GEL 1000.

6. (removed – 21 February 2024, No. 4041).

7. (removed – 21 February 2024, No. 4041).

8. Carrying out, without registration, of an activity related to waste management provided for by Annex II to the Environmental Assessment Code, which, on the basis of a screening decision, was not subject to the environmental impact assessment procedure, −

shall result in a fine of GEL 5,000.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13 July 2016.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 6 March 2024.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 788 – website, 4 July 2025.

Article 40¹. Violation of special requirements for the collection and treatment of hazardous waste 1. Violation of the rules for packaging and labelling of collected and temporarily stored hazardous waste − shall result in a fine of GEL 1,000.🔗

2. Failure by the consignor of hazardous waste to comply with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia for filling in and submitting the hazardous waste transportation form in the relevant electronic system before the commencement of transportation of hazardous waste − shall result in a fine of GEL 1,000.

3. Failure by the carrier and the recipient of hazardous waste to comply with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia for filling in and submitting the hazardous waste transportation form in the relevant electronic system − shall result in a fine of GEL 1,000.

4. Violation of special requirements for the management of waste oil − shall result in a fine of GEL 1,500.

5. Arrangement and operation, without registration in accordance with the established procedure, of a facility for the temporary storage of not less than 2 tonnes and not more than 10 tonnes of hazardous waste – shall result in a fine of GEL 2,000.

6. Violation of special requirements for the temporary storage of hazardous waste at a facility for the temporary storage of hazardous waste and for the operation of that facility − shall result in a fine of GEL 3,000.

7. Violation of special requirements for the management of asbestos waste − shall result in a fine of GEL 3,000.

8. Violation of special requirements for the management of persistent organic pollutants waste − shall result in a fine of GEL 3,000.

Law of Georgia No. 4041 of 21 February 2024 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 40². Violation of requirements for municipal waste management 1. Violation of the rules for the collection and treatment of municipal waste – shall result in a fine of GEL 2,000.🔗

2. Failure to develop a municipal waste management plan – shall result in a fine of GEL 5,000.

3. Failure to implement a measure defined by the municipal waste management plan – shall result in a fine of GEL 5,000.

Law of Georgia No. 4041 of 21 February 2024 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 41. Violation of the term and/or conditions of operation of an existing landfill or violation of the requirements for its closure Violation of the term and/or conditions established by this Code for the operation of an existing landfill or violation of the requirements for its closure and subsequent maintenance − shall result in a fine of GEL 3,000.🔗

Law of Georgia No. 4041 of 21 February 2024 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 42. Failure to fulfil the obligation to designate an environmental manager and/or to notify the Ministry of his/her identity Failure to fulfil the obligation to designate an environmental manager and/or to notify the Ministry of his/her identity – shall result in a warning or a fine of GEL 200.🔗

Law of Georgia No. 5563 of 24 June 2016 - website, 13.07.2016.

Article 43. Violation of the requirements for submitting a company waste management plan and for implementing the measures defined by this plan🔗

1. In the case of a request by a municipality, failure by a natural or legal person defined by paragraph 1 of Article 14 of this Code to submit to it a company waste management plan – shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 4,000.

2. Carrying out activities without an agreed company waste management plan, as well as failure to implement the measures defined by the company waste management plan − shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 5,000.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 13 July 2020 No. 6751 – website, 20.07.2020.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 44. Failure to fulfil the obligation of waste accounting and reporting Failure to fulfil the obligation of waste accounting and reporting – shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 200.🔗

Article 44¹. Failure to fulfil the requirements of extended producer responsibility 1. Placing on the market by a distributor of a product whose producer is not registered in the electronic register of extended producer responsibility and/or is not a member of an EPR organization or has not individually established an EPR organization, –🔗

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 2,000.

2. Carrying out activities by a producer of a product subject to extended producer responsibility without joining a collectively established EPR organization or without individually establishing an EPR organization −

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 5,000.

3. Carrying out activities by a producer of a product subject to extended producer responsibility without registration in the electronic register of extended producer responsibility or violation of the registration rules −

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 5,000.

4. Failure by an EPR organization to fulfil the requirements established by technical regulations related to extended producer responsibility in respect of accounting and reporting −

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 5,000.

5. Violation of the registration rules by an EPR organization −

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 7,000.

6. Failure by an EPR organization to fulfil the requirement to implement the measures defined by the action plan −

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 7,000.

7. Carrying out activities by an EPR organization without authorization −

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 10,000.

8. Absence of an agreed action plan on the part of an EPR organization −

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 10,000.

9. Failure by an EPR organization to achieve the annual target indicators for the collection, recovery (regeneration) and recycling of waste established by technical regulations −

shall result in a fine in the amount of GEL 20,000.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 45. Failure to fulfil special obligations related to hazardous waste management 1. Failure to fulfil the obligation to inform personnel working with hazardous waste and to conduct appropriate training – shall result in a fine of GEL 200.🔗

2. Failure to fulfil the obligation to create and implement a system for the separation and collection of hazardous waste – shall result in a fine of GEL 600.

Article 46. Failure to comply with the requirements of bodies authorized to draw up protocols on administrative offences provided for by Articles 31–45 of this Code 1. Failure, within the established time limit, to fulfil an obligation imposed by an administrative instruction of a body authorized to draw up a protocol on an administrative offence, concerning the elimination of an administrative offence after its commission, – shall result in the imposition of an administrative penalty (a fine) within the limits of the sanction of that Article or paragraph of an Article of this Code for the violation of which the person was required to eliminate the administrative offence.🔗

2. Obstruction by an employee of a body authorized to draw up a protocol on an administrative offence provided for by this Code of the exercise of a right and the performance of a duty − shall result in a fine of GEL 5,000.

3. Failure to comply with a lawful requirement of an employee of a body authorized to draw up a protocol on an administrative offence provided for by this Code (including failure to submit a document, material and information provided for by the legislation of Georgia, disregard of a request to ensure representation by the object being inspected during the inspection process) −

shall result in a fine of GEL 500.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 - website, 13.07.2016.

Article 47. Administrative offence case proceedings 1. Proceedings in an administrative offence case provided for by this Code and the imposition of a sanction shall be carried out in accordance with the rules established by this Code and the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia.🔗

2. The relevant act provided for by Articles 31–46 of this Code, committed repeatedly, shall result in the doubling of the amount of the relevant fine.

3. The commission of an administrative offence provided for by Articles 31–37 of this Code within the established boundaries of a state reserve, a national park, a strict nature protection zone, a natural monument, the core (strict nature protection) zone of a biosphere reserve, a World Heritage site, or a wetland of international importance shall result in the doubling of the amount of the relevant fine, while the repeated commission of the said administrative offence shall result in the quadrupling of the amount of the relevant fine.

4. Liability for violation of the conditions established by an environmental decision shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia.

5. The imposition of liability provided for by this Chapter on an offender shall not release the offender from the obligation to compensate, in the established amount and manner, for damage caused to the environment. In the event of the commission of an administrative offence provided for by Articles 31–34, paragraph 2 of Article 36, and Article 37 of this Code, the offender shall also bear the obligation to clean up the territory polluted/littered with waste. In the event of voluntary non-fulfilment of this obligation, the cleaning up of the said territory shall be ensured by the executive body of the municipality or a person authorised by the executive body of the municipality, while the cleaning-up costs shall be borne by the offender.

6. Protocols on administrative offences provided for by Articles 31–36 and 39–42, paragraph 2 of Article 43, and Articles 44–46 of this Code shall be drawn up by authorised employees of institutions within the system of the Ministry.

7. Protocols on administrative offences provided for by Articles 31–34, paragraph 2 of Article 36, Articles 37 and 38, and paragraph 1 of Article 40 of this Code shall be drawn up by employees of the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, if the offence is committed through the use of a vehicle, as well as in the case where an authorised person of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia directly witnesses (records) the fact of the said offence.

8. Protocols on administrative offences provided for by Articles 31–35, paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 36, Article 39, paragraph 1 of Article 43, and Article 46 of this Code shall be drawn up by the executive body of the municipality or a person authorised by the executive body of the municipality.

9. The district (city) court shall consider cases of administrative offences provided for by Articles 31–46 of this Code.

10. Authorised employees of institutions within the system of the Ministry shall have the right to consider cases of administrative offences and to impose administrative penalties provided for by Articles 31–36 and 39–42, paragraph 2 of Article 43 and Articles 44–46 of this Code.

11. Employees of the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall have the right to consider cases of administrative offences and to impose administrative penalties provided for by Articles 31–34, paragraph 2 of Article 36, Articles 37 and 38 and paragraph 1 of Article 40 of this Code, if the offence is committed through the use of a vehicle, as well as in the case where an authorised person of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia directly witnesses (records) the fact of the said offence.

12. The executive body of a municipality or a person authorised by the executive body of a municipality shall have the right to consider cases of administrative offences and to impose administrative penalties provided for by Articles 31–35, paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 36, Article 39, paragraph 1 of Article 43 and Article 46 of this Code.

13. In the event of the commission of an administrative offence provided for by this Code, if the offence does not require an administrative investigation, the person having the authority to draw up a protocol on the offence shall consider the case of the administrative offence on the spot and shall impose an administrative penalty on the offender on the spot.

14. In the case provided for by paragraph 13 of this Article, the fine shall not be collected on the spot, and a fine receipt shall be issued to the offender on the spot in material or electronic form, which shall at the same time constitute a protocol on the administrative offence.

15. The form of the fine receipt provided for by paragraph 14 of this Article and the procedure for its completion, delivery and submission shall be determined by a subordinate normative act by the Ministry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the representative body of the municipality, respectively.

16. A fine receipt issued for an administrative offence provided for by this Code shall be appealed to a court by the offender.

Law of Georgia of 19 February 2015 No. 3098 – website, 27.02.2015.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 898 – website, 21.06.2017.

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2018 No. 2198 – website, 10.05.2018.

Law of Georgia of 21 February 2024 No. 4041 – website, 06.03.2024.

Article 48. Transitional provisions related to the entry into force of this Code 1. The National Waste Management Strategy provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 11 of this Code and the National Waste Management Action Plan provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 12 of this Code shall be adopted before 31 December 2015.🔗

2. The Ministry shall develop the Biodegradable Municipal Waste Management Strategy provided for by paragraph 2 of Article 11 of this Code before 31 December 2019.

3. The Municipal Waste Management Plan provided for by Article 13 of this Code shall be adopted by each municipality before 31 December 2017.

4. The first Company Waste Management Plan provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 14 of this Code shall be submitted to the Ministry before 1 July 2017.

5. The liability provided for by paragraph 1, paragraph 7 (except for a legal entity), paragraph 9 (except for a legal entity) and paragraph 10 of Article 31 and by paragraph 1 of Article 35 of this Code shall not apply to the territories of settlements determined by an act of the representative body of the respective municipality where the municipal waste collection and removal system does not operate.

6. The obligations provided for by Articles 14 and 15 and by paragraph 1 of Article 29 of this Code shall not apply until 1 January 2028 to the activities determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No. 5563 of 24 June 2016 – website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia No. 124 of 21 December 2016 – website, 29.12.2016.

Law of Georgia No. 5302 of 26 November 2019 – website, 04.12.2019.

Law of Georgia No. 6751 of 13 July 2020 – website, 20.07.2020.

Law of Georgia No. 157 of 13 December 2024 – website, 30.12.2024.

Article 49. Subordinate normative acts to be adopted and issued on the basis of this Code 1. The Government of Georgia shall adopt by 1 August 2015:🔗

a) the Resolution “On Determining and Classifying the List of Waste by Types and Characteristics” in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 2 of this Code;

b) the Resolution “On the Arrangement, Operation, Closure and Aftercare of a Landfill” in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 22 of this Code;

c) the Resolution “On the Form and Content of Waste Record-Keeping and Reporting” in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 29 of this Code.

2. The Government of Georgia shall adopt by 1 February 2016:

a) the Resolution “On the Rules for the Collection and Treatment of Municipal Waste” in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 16 of this Code;

b) the Resolution “On the Rules and Conditions for the Registration of the Collection, Transportation, Pre-treatment and Temporary Storage of Waste” in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 26 of this Code;

c) the Resolution “On Special Requirements for the Collection and Treatment of Hazardous Waste” in accordance with Article 20 of this Code.

2¹. By 1 January 2025, the Government of Georgia shall determine by resolution the activities to which the obligations provided for by Articles 14 and 15 and paragraph 1 of Article 29 of this Code shall not apply until 1 January 2028.

3. The Government of Georgia shall adopt by 1 February 2017 the Resolution “On the Conditions for the Incineration and Co-incineration of Waste” in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 7 of this Code.

4. By 31 December 2018, the Ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and interested persons, shall develop and submit to the Government of Georgia for adoption draft resolutions in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 9 of this Code.

5. By 1 February 2016, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, together with the Ministry, shall develop and submit to the Government of Georgia for adoption a draft/drafts of one or several subordinate acts, which determine the requirements related to the transportation of waste, in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 6 and paragraph 7 of Article 7 of this Code.

6. In accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 6 of this Code, the act on the management of medical waste shall be adopted by the Government of Georgia.

7. By 31 October 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia and the Ministry shall issue a joint subordinate act on the management of animal waste in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 6 of this Code.

8. By 1 August 2015, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia shall issue the Order “On Approving the Rules for the Review and Approval of a Company's Waste Management Plan” in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 14 of this Code.

9. Before 1 September 2016, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia shall determine by Order the list of activities as a result of which less than 2 tonnes of hazardous waste is generated during a year and to which the obligations provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 18 of this Code apply.

10. Before 1 October 2018, the Ministry shall develop and submit to the Government of Georgia for adoption a draft Resolution "on the Approval of the Technical Regulation — 'Rules for the Regulation of Plastic and Biodegradable Bags'", in accordance with subparagraph "b" of paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Code.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 21 December 2016 No. 124 – website, 29.12.2016.

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2018 No. 2198 – website, 10.05.2018.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3065 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 26 November 2019 No. 5302 – website, 04.12.2019.

Law of Georgia of 13 December 2024 No. 157 – website, 30.12.2024.

Article 50. Entry into force of the Code 1. This Code, except for paragraph 7 of Article 7, Article 9, paragraph 1 of Article 15, subparagraph „b“ of paragraph 1 of Article 16, subparagraph „a“ of paragraph 1 of Article 18, Articles 26, 29, 30 and 38, paragraphs 1–6 of Article 40, Articles 42, 44 and 45, shall enter into force from 15 January 2015.🔗

2. Paragraph 1 of Article 15, paragraph 6 of Article 40 and Article 42 of this Code shall enter into force from 1 February 2016.

3. Articles 26, 29 and 30 of this Code shall enter into force from 1 January 2018. 4. Paragraph 7 of Article 7, subparagraph „a“ of paragraph 1 of Article 18 and Articles 38 and 45 of this Code shall enter into force from 1 February 2018. 5. Paragraphs 1–5 of Article 40 and Article 44 of this Code shall enter into force from 1 April 2018. 6. Subparagraph „b“ of paragraph 1 of Article 16 of this Code shall enter into force from 1 February 2019. 7. Article 9 of this Code shall enter into force from 1 December 2019.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Law of Georgia of 21 December 2016 No. 124 – website, 29.12.2016.

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili

Kutaisi,

26 December 2014

N2994-rs

Annex I

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Recovery operations

R 1

Use as fuel or other use for obtaining energy

R 2

Recovery (regeneration) of solvent

R 3

Recycling/recovery of organic substances which are not used as solvents (including composting and other biological transformation processes)[1]

R 4

Recycling/recovery of metals or metal compounds

R 5

Recycling/recovery of other inorganic substances[2]

R 6

Regeneration of acids or bases

R 7

Recovery of components used to reduce pollution

R 8

Recovery of components from catalysts

R 9

Re-refining of petroleum products or other re-use

R 10

Land treatment resulting in benefit to agriculture or improving the ecological condition

R 11

Use of waste obtained as a result of any of the operations listed in codes R1 to R10 inclusive

R 12

Exchange of waste for the purpose of carrying out the operations listed in codes R1 to R11[3] inclusive

R 13

Storage of waste intended for any of the operations listed in codes R1 to R12 inclusive (this does not include temporary storage of waste at the place of generation, preparation for collection)

[1] This includes gasification and pyrolysis.

[2] This includes soil cleaning resulting from soil recovery and recycling of inorganic construction materials.

[3] If no other R code applies, this may include pre-treatment of waste prior to recovery of the waste, including such pre-treatment operations as: dismantling, sorting, crushing, compaction, granulation, drying, shredding, conditioning, repackaging, separation or mixing, prior to submission for the carrying out of any of the operations given in codes R1 to R11.

Annex II

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2016 No. 5563 – website, 13.07.2016.

Disposal operations

D 1

Deposit into or onto land (e.g., landfill disposal of waste, etc.)

D 2

Land treatment (e.g., biodegradation of liquid or sludge-like waste in soil, etc.)

D 3

Deep injection (e.g., injection of waste into wells, salt domes or natural reservoirs, etc.)

D 4

Surface impoundment (e.g., placement of liquid or sludge-like waste into pits, ponds or lagoons, etc.)

D 5

Disposal at a specially engineered landfill (e.g., placement of waste in separate cells which are closed and isolated from one another and from the environment, etc.)

D 6

Release into water bodies (other than seas and oceans)

D 7

Release into seas and oceans, including burial on the seabed

D 8

Biological treatment not specified elsewhere in this Annex, which results in final compounds or mixtures which are disposed of by means of any of the operations listed in codes D1 to D12

D 9

Physico-chemical treatment not specified elsewhere in this Annex, which results in final compounds or mixtures which are disposed of by means of any of the operations listed in codes D1 to D12 (e.g., evaporation, drying, calcination, etc.)

D 10

Incineration on land

D 11

Incineration at sea[1]

D 12

Permanent storage (e.g., placement of containers in a mine, etc.)

D 13

Blending prior to the commencement of any of the operations listed in codes D1 to D12[2]

D 14

Repackaging prior to the commencement of any of the operations listed in codes D1 to D13

D 15

Storage during the course of any of the operations listed in codes D1 to D14 (this does not include temporary storage at the place of waste generation, preparation for collection)

[1] This operation is prohibited by international conventions.

[2] If no other D code applies, this may include pre-treatment of waste prior to the disposal of the waste, including such pre-treatment operations as: sorting, crushing, pressing, granulation, drying, shredding, conditioning or separation prior to submission for the performance of any of the operations set out in codes D1 to D12.

Annex III

Characteristics of hazardous waste

H 1

"Explosive" – substances and preparations which may explode under the effect of flame, or which are more sensitive to friction than dinitrobenzene.

H 2

"Oxidizing" – substances and preparations which, when in contact with other substances, in particular flammable substances, exhibit highly exothermic reactions.

H 3-A

"Highly flammable":

liquid substances and preparations having a flash point below 21°C (including extremely flammable liquids);

substances and preparations which, at normal temperature, on contact with air, may heat up and catch fire without the application of any energy;

Solid substances and preparations which have the ability to cause fire even upon brief contact with an ignition source and which continue to burn or be consumed after removal from the ignition source;

Gaseous substances and preparations which are flammable in air at normal pressure;

Substances and preparations which, upon interaction with water or humid air, release dangerous quantities of readily flammable gases.

H 3-B

“Flammable” – liquid substances and preparations whose flash point is greater than or equal to 21°C and less than or equal to 55°C.

H 4

“Irritant” – non-corrosive substances and preparations which, upon immediate, prolonged or repeated interaction with the skin or mucous membrane, may cause inflammation.

H 5

“Harmful” – substances and preparations whose inhalation, ingestion or penetration through the skin is dangerous to health.

H 6

“Toxic” – substances and preparations (including very toxic substances and preparations) which, in case of inhalation, ingestion or penetration through the skin, may cause serious, acute or chronic damage to health or even death.

H 7

“Carcinogenic” – substances and preparations which, in case of inhalation, ingestion or penetration through the skin, may cause a tumour or increase the likelihood of its occurrence.

H 8

“Corrosive” – substances and preparations which, upon interaction with living tissue, may destroy it.

H 9

“Infectious” – substances and preparations which contain microorganisms or their toxins which, as is known or there is reasonable suspicion, are capable of causing disease in humans or other living organisms.

H 10

“Toxic for reproduction” – substances and preparations which, in case of inhalation, ingestion or penetration through the skin, may cause non-hereditary congenital pathologies or increase the likelihood of their development.

H 11

“Mutagenic” – substances and preparations which, in case of inhalation, ingestion or penetration through the skin, may cause hereditary genetic defects or increase the likelihood of their development.

H 12

Wastes which, upon interaction with water, air or acid, release toxic or very toxic gases.

H 13[1]

“Sensitizing” – substances and preparations which, in case of ingestion or penetration through the skin, may cause a hypersensitivity reaction, in particular, upon prolonged exposure to them, they may have a characteristic adverse effect.

H 14

“Ecotoxic” – wastes which pose or may pose an immediate or prolonged risk to one or more sectors of the environment.

H 15

Wastes which, after disposal, may release another substance, e.g., a leachate, which has any of the characteristics listed in codes H1–H14.

[1] If testing methods are available.