Luanda - The Ministers of Environment, Ana Paula de Carvalho, and Industry and Commerce, Rui Minguêns de Oliveira, signed Friday, in Luanda, a memorandum to resume exports of non-hazardous waste.
The memorandum was signed in compliance with the Presidential Decrees that approve the regulation for the transfer of waste intended for reuse, recycling and recovery abroad, as well as waste management.
The same decrees establish the annual quotas of waste to be transferred by type.
The Environment Minister said that the memorandum, which was suspended for three years, must be signed annually and safeguards waste absorbed locally.
She explained that, in this way, all requests regarding waste that can be exported will receive due treatment and authorization against the stipulated quota.
She clarified that her ministry acts as the party responsible for waste, with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce responsible for the part linked to exports.
In turn, the Minister of Industry and Commerce stressed that they are complying with a legal obligation to, in a harmonious manner, work on this process in order to raise revenue for the country and prevent the export of what is needed internally.
He explained that they will work annually to produce a new Executive Decree, to regulate export quotas for waste, taking into account local needs depending on what will be produced.
He highlighted that the three-year shutdown was due to the COVID-19 period, which disrupted activities in this sector.
The protocol authorizes the transfer, during the period 2024 to 2025, of construction and demolition waste/rubble, mineral oil, tires, batteries, used accumulators, electrical and electronic equipment.
The same protocol does not authorize, during this period, the transfer of paper, plastic, ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, organic material, leather waste, used vegetable oil and used dry batteries.
This measure is intended to reduce environmental pollution caused by improper disposal of waste, acquisition of foreign exchange for the country, combat the illegal export of these products and encourage reuse, recycling and valorization of them locally. SJ/OHA/DOJ
