The implementation of sustainable development principles and quality improvement in the environment, including human health protection, are the main objectives of waste management (WM) in the Slovak Republic (SR).

Waste management is governed by legislation complying with EU regulations. Since 1993, strategic direction has been ensured through the concept document Waste Management Programme of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter WMP SR) adopted by the government. WMP SR is evaluated regularly (as a rule, every five years) and new targets are set out for the next period.

The total waste produced decreased by 43 % from 2002 to 2009, i.e. from 15 100 000 to 8 500 000 tonnes (see Figure 1). The generation of municipal waste in recent years has slightly increased (see Figure 2.)

Link to Enviroportal — information on waste (in Slovak):

http://cms.enviroportal.sk/odpady/verejne-informacie.php

http://enviroportal.sk/indikatory/kategoria.php?kategoria=208

Landfilling of municipal waste prevails and has not been reduced. During 2006–07, this method of disposal was stabilised at approximately 80 % (see Figure 3).

Link to Slovstat — information on waste (in Slovak):

http://www.statistics.sk/pls/elisw/elis_web.vbd

Developments in landfilling meant that all landfills which had not met the required technical and legal criteria were closed from 31 July 2000 (see Figure 4). Simultaneously, strict guidelines for the administration and control of all operating landfills were set out.

Since 2002, the number of separately collected fractions of municipal waste has increased (see Figure 5), and the proportion of separated municipal waste, as of 2009, has increased by approximately 2.7 %, which shows a positive trend in the introduction of separate collections in municipalities and villages.

A positive trend was observed in the development of handling waste electric and electronic equipments (WEEE) in Slovakia (see Figure 6). The targets for the collection, recovery, reuse and recycling of components, materials and substances of WEEE were met in 2006.

In Slovakia the amount of packaging put on the market shows growing trend (see Figure 7). As a consequent the production of packaging waste treatment per inhabitant in Slovakia is being increased (see Figure 8). Specified targets for packaging waste (commodities — glass, plastics, paper and metals) for recycling as well as for total recovery were fulfilled in 2007 (see Figure 9); they are almost at the target levels for 2011.

The development of treated end-of-life vehicles is shown in Figure 10. The number of treated end-of-life vehicles in Slovakia is continuously increasing. The implementation of online information systems for the treatment of end-of-life vehicles connected with police departments is also contributing to this situation. In 2009 the Government of the Slovak Republic decided to support the purchase of vehicles if the owner (purchaser) had delivered the own one to the authorised facility for end-of-life vehicles treatment (scrapping contribution) what caused the single-shot increase of number of treated end-of-life vehicles in 2009.

Link to Recycling Fund (RF):

http://www.recfond.sk/index.php?set_lang=en

 The Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No 223/2001Coll. on waste and amendment of certain acts as amended by subsequent regulations, the Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No 119/2010Coll. on packaging and packaging waste, the Act No 582/25004 Coll. on local taxes and fees, the Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No 17/2004 on landfill fees and the related regulations represents the fundamental legal standard of waste management.

 In the coming years, we can expect a slight increase in municipal waste produced in Slovakia.

Concerning municipal waste treatment, the amount of material recovery including composting and energy recovery of municipal waste is very low and does not substantially approach the target set in the WMP until 2010.

The solution to waste management issues is partly provided in concept and strategic documents such as the National Strategy of Sustainable Development, Strategy of State Environmental Policy, Programmatic Government Declaration, the National Environmental Action Programme and others.

In conformity with this system, the growth of wastes should not relate to GDP growth and waste handling and disposal expenditures should be included in the costs of products and maintenance costs.

Separate collections should be extended further as well as the level of home composting.

After entry into the European Union, Slovakia transposed EU waste management regulations into national legislation, mainly by Act No 223/2001 Coll. on waste and relevant executive regulations.

To improve waste management, activities for the improvement of separate collection systems and the recovery of selected waste types are supported through state subsidies (by means of the state Environmental Fund) as well as financed from the non-state Recycling Fund. In 2007 – 2013 the Operation Programme Environment financed by European Funds with its priority No 4 Waste Management supports development of waste management infrastructure in Slovakia in total amount 570 588 235 EUR.