By Dolores Vicioso
Copyright dr1
A crucial bill aimed at tackling the Dominican Republic’s solid waste crisis has been stalled in the Senate for two months after it was approved by both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, preventing it from being sent to the President for final approval and enactment. The Senate has chosen not to submit it to the Presidency.
Hoy reports that the legislation, which would amend the existing Law 225-20 on Comprehensive Solid Waste Management and Co-processing, remains “held hostage” in the Senate archives, according to critics.
The delay comes despite the bill’s approval by the Senate on 23 July 2025. The Constitution and the Senate’s own rules require that such a bill be sent to the Executive Branch within 15 days for promulgation or review. No explanation has been given for the holdup, which some believe is due to pressure from business interests.
Hoy newspaper reports that while the bill sits in legislative limbo, solid waste continues to pile up across the country, spilling into ravines and rivers before ultimately polluting the sea. Local municipalities have been unable to manage waste collection and disposal effectively, leading to a widespread environmental and public health crisis.
The proposed amendments were the result of extensive collaboration. An ad-hoc commission, which studied the bill before it reached the Senate, consulted with various municipal sectors and over 30 business entities. This process led to a consensus, addressing previous opposition from corporations.
Leaders in the municipal sector allege that business groups are lobbying against the bill, unwilling to sacrifice a small portion of their profits even though the law would contribute to a cleaner country, benefiting public health and tourism.
Pedro Richardson, the executive director of the Dominican Federation of Municipal Districts (FEDODIM), has described the Senate’s inaction as a “kidnapping” of the law. He has urged Senate President Ricardo de Los Santos to immediately forward the bill to the Executive Branch.
Richardson emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting that the new law would provide much-needed funding for municipalities. The bill is expected to allocate approximately RD$2.5 billion for local cleanup efforts next year, which translates to about RD$20 per resident per month.
He pointed out that some businesses, which generate an estimated RD$75 billion in annual sales and are also major waste producers, are resisting contributing to the solution.
Read more in Spanish:Hoy
23 September 2025
