Hungary announces afforestation program and waste management reform

The Hungarian government has announced a large-scale national afforestation and forest establishment program running through 2030. According to Péter Magyar, the initiative aims to plant millions of new trees, create green corridors, and expand waterfront promenades in both Budapest and regional areas. To support this, the government will provide non-refundable subsidies for new forest establishment and waterfront planting, while also focusing on the care of aging trees. New plantings will prioritize species capable of withstanding drought and extreme weather.

In a separate environmental policy move, the government is planning a major overhaul of the national waste management system. This follows a review indicating that the current system, managed by Mohu under a 35-year concession, is failing to meet European Union recycling and processing targets. While municipal waste production is not disproportionately high, a significant portion is not being properly recycled, leading to excessive landfill use. The government aims to restructure the system to improve service quality and increase recycling rates, noting that meeting EU obligations could potentially reduce public expenditures by up to 90 billion forints annually by 2027.