AVE CZ faces court over alleged billion-koruna waste fee fraud

A Czech court has begun proceedings against waste management company AVE CZ, which is accused of intentionally evading landfill disposal fees. Prosecutors allege that between 2016 and 2020, the company misclassified hazardous waste as construction material used to build the landfills themselves, a category exempt from certain fees. This practice allegedly occurred at sites in Čáslav, Benátky nad Jizerou, Mšeně, and Hořovice.

The state prosecutor, Zdeněk Matula, estimates the total damage at approximately 940 million CZK, noting that the State Environmental Fund was deprived of roughly two billion CZK. The prosecution is seeking a fine between 1.2 and 1.3 billion CZK. The prosecutor also highlighted environmental concerns, including reports of leaking drums and explosions at the Čáslav site.

AVE CZ, which includes investor Daniel Křetínský, has denied all wrongdoing. Legal representatives argue that the indictment is “purposefully written” to create the impression of a major economic crime and maintain that the company operated under valid state permits and regular supervision, believing its actions were entirely legal.