Slovakia faces waste management challenges under new EU regulations

Slovakia faces challenges in aligning its domestic waste management and extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems with new European Union regulations. Attorney Mária Sadloňová of Eversheds Sutherland has noted that the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which becomes generally applicable on August 12, 2026, is directly binding. This means companies must comply with specific EU requirements even if Slovak national laws have not yet been fully updated to reflect them.

Simultaneously, Slovakia is struggling to meet waste processing targets. While the EU aims to reduce landfilling to 10% by 2035, Slovakia's rate has remained between 38% and 39% over the last five years. Achieving these goals would likely require increased waste incineration capacity to provide energy and heat, yet new projects face significant political opposition and logistical hurdles, such as the need for proximity to heat networks, electricity grids, and industrial zones.