Iceland’s Waste Management Act establishes the general framework for waste prevention, collection, recovery, recycling and disposal, with the aim of supporting a circular economy, protecting human and animal health and the environment, reducing nuisance and promoting efficient use of resources. Waste management must follow the statutory hierarchy: prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, other recovery (including energy recovery), and finally disposal. The Minister sets national waste-management and waste-prevention policies, while municipalities must prepare regional plans, organise household and commercial waste collection, provide collection and reception facilities and ensure that recycling and recovery targets are pursued. The Act requires waste to be transferred to appropriate treatment facilities and generally prohibits dumping and open burning. Separate collection is required for streams including paper and cardboard, metals, plastics, glass, biowaste, textiles and hazardous waste, while reception and disposal facilities are subject to operating permits and requirements concerning best available techniques, pollution prevention, emission limits, monitoring and closure. The Act also incorporates extended producer responsibility, requiring producers and importers to finance the collection and treatment of products once they become waste, with the Recycling Fund and Endurvinnslan responsible for implementing relevant collection, recycling and information obligations. Separate provisions address hazardous waste, batteries, electrical and electronic equipment, mining waste, landfills and other specialised waste streams. Cross-border movements of waste are also regulated through notification, approval and inspection requirements, and certain imports, exports or transit movements may be prohibited. Supervision is principally divided between the Environment and Energy Agency and municipal health committees. Authorities may inspect facilities, take samples and photographs, require information, issue warnings and corrective orders, impose daily coercive fines of up to ISK 500,000, arrange remedial work at the responsible party’s expense, temporarily suspend dangerous activities and revoke operating permits in serious or repeated cases. Administrative fines may be imposed for breaches including illegal dumping or burning, operating without a permit, unlawful waste shipments, hazardous-waste violations and failures concerning landfill monitoring or closure. Administrative decisions are generally appealable to the Environmental and Natural Resources Appeals Board, while serious or repeated intentional offences may be punished by fines or imprisonment for up to four years.
冰岛 · 2003-03-20