Colombia: Former Minister Edwin Palma faces legal complaint over waste tariffs

Former Minister Edwin Palma is facing legal scrutiny following the issuance of Resolution 1040 by the Water and Basic Sanitation Regulation Commission (CRA). The resolution, signed during the final days of Gustavo Petro’s administration, modifies the billing scheme for waste collection companies with more than 5,000 urban users, with implementation set for January 2027.

The industry association Andesco has requested the revocation of this regulation, arguing that the new model omits essential operating costs and will ultimately increase monthly service fees for Colombian households. While Palma maintains the measure was intended to reduce costs for end users, Andesco warns of the opposite effect.

Furthermore, a criminal complaint for alleged prevarication has been filed with the Attorney General's Office. The complaint alleges that the CRA issued the document while its actions were suspended due to formal recusals, specifically naming executive director Gloria Esperanza Narváez Tafur and expert Juan Camilo Acevedo Páez as having voted despite legal restrictions.