Meeting with Head of Rosprirodnadzor Svetlana Radionova

Head of Rosprirodnadzor Svetlana Radionova Radionova SvetlanaHead of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources : Mr President,

Five years ago you set out the main guidelines that have changed our environmental views. You defined three key points in accordance with which we are working. In your 2021 Address [to the Federal Assembly], you said that if you have benefited from polluting the environment, clean up after yourself, and Rosprirodnadzor must monitor compliance with this. You emphasised that the "polluter pays" principle must apply to everyone, and that we must hold violators accountable. You also proposed marking environmental payments to the federal budget.

As a follow-up to these instructions, the Government has adopted a large number of by-laws and key federal laws stipulating responsibility for failure to clear up accumulated pollution, so that there will be no more tragedies like those in Usolye-Sibirskoye or Krasny Bor, the consequences of which we are eliminating with federal funds. We are working with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) to create a technology for discontinuing the operation of such facilities.

We have completed a complex reform of the extended producer responsibility system, setting clear requirements for the disposal of packaging waste. Manufacturers must either pay for the recycling of their packaging or ensure that these payments are directed towards improving waste management and solid waste reform. This work is also well underway.

To further this idea, we are implementing the principle that every ruble we receive from polluting the environment must be invested in environmental development. We are collecting two types of payments: the mandatory payment by every enterprise for pollution, discharges and emissions. We also gradually increase such payments every year by one billion rubles. We are effectively bringing those who "forget" to pay out of the shadows. We send warnings and use preventive measures. As of today, we have transferred 21 billion rubles to the budgets of the constituent entities of Russia, and each of them can and does invest these funds in environmental protection.

We take pride in the success of the reform on extended producer responsibility. We have collected 20 billion rubles, a record amount. The target figure was seven billion rubles. We have collected these funds in accordance with relevant laws.

To be continued.