Overview

This Proclamation establishes a comprehensive legal framework for solid waste management and disposal throughout Ethiopia, replacing the previous Proclamation No. 513/2007. It aims to mitigate environmental and public health risks from increasing solid waste through an integrated system of collection, transportation, storage, reuse, recycling, and disposal.

Key words and Phrases

Solid Waste, Solid Waste Management and Disposal, Litter, Construction debris, Demolition waste, building waste, Dead animals, Glass containers, Tin cans, Plastic bottles, Plastic bags, Single-use plastic, Plastic packaging, Reuse, Recycle / Recycling, Open burning (prohibited), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Polluter pays principle, Waste segregation at source

Key Definitions

• Solid Waste: Any non-liquid, non-gas material discarded as unwanted
• Solid Waste Management: Reducing, segregating, collecting, transporting, treating, reusing, recycling, and disposing solid waste
• Extended Producer Responsibility: Producer liability extending to post-consumer stages
• Single-Use Plastic: Plastic used only once and disposed of directly
• Plastic Bag: Low-density, non-biodegradable plastic bags

Core Principles

1. Waste reduction from source, reuse, recycle, and proper disposal
2. Public participation
3. Polluter pays principle

Major Provisions

Extended Producer Responsibility

• Plastic producers must adopt environmentally-friendly designs and reduce production waste
• Producers of beverages in glass, tin, and plastic containers must establish collection and recycling systems

Waste Collection and Segregation

• Individuals must segregate waste at source and transfer to authorized collectors
• Citizens in areas without collection services must transport waste to designated sites
• City administrations must provide communal waste containers and ensure timely collection

Single-Use Plastic Prohibition

• Production, import, sale, storage, or use of single-use plastics is prohibited
• Six-month grace period for existing stock
• Exceptions may be granted by the Authority where alternatives are unavailable
• Plastic bags users and sellers face severe penalties: fines of 2,000-5,000 Birr for use, and 50,000-200,000 Birr with up to 5 years imprisonment for commercial activities

Construction and Demolition Waste

• Construction permits require demonstrated environmentally-sound disposal plans
• Temporary storage must not obstruct people or cause harm
• Sites must be restored to original condition after use

Institutional Responsibilities

City Administrations must:

• Include waste infrastructure in urban plans
• Develop participatory waste management plans
• Conduct environmental audits
• Establish public awareness programs
• Deploy appropriate vehicles and equipment
• Create sanitary landfills meeting environmental standards

Rural Kebele Administrations have analogous duties for their jurisdictions

Private Sector Participation

• Enterprises must obtain annual competence certificates from the Authority or Regional Environmental Protection Office
• City administrations may delegate waste services to private investors or NGOs

Administrative Offenses

Include: littering outside designated areas, unauthorized waste operations, open burning (unless permitted), damaging waste containers, illegal dumping, obstructing waste services, unauthorized advertising causing pollution, improper disposal of dead animals, and single-use plastic violations

Criminal Penalties

• Plastic bag use: 2,000-5,000 Birr fine
• Plastic bag commercial activities: 50,000-200,000 Birr fine + up to 5 years imprisonment
• Institutional violations: triple the monetary penalties

Enforcement and Implementation

• Authority to issue directives for Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa
• Regional Environmental Protection Offices for other regions
• Council of Ministers may issue implementing regulations
• Administrative measures complement criminal penalties

Effective Date

July 31, 2025

---

Note: This Proclamation significantly strengthens Ethiopia’s waste management framework, with particular emphasis on banning single-use plastics, establishing extended producer responsibility, and creating clear enforcement mechanisms including substantial penalties for violations.