President Juan Manuel Santos signed into law a new bill to impose fines on people who violate waste management regulations, Colombian media reported Thursday.
Law 1466 will control the entire system of how trash, recycling and debris are handled in Colombia. The new act will allow the government to fine careless litterers and require them to take educational courses.
Departments and municipalities have up to one year to approve the specific implentation of the law in their districts. Mayors and council members also have the resposibility to promote the culture of environmental sensibilty among their constituents.
Colombia’s Autonomous Regional Corporations (CAR), the government’s regional environmental authorities, will offer support to their deparments to help design and implement the law.
The bill also says that the government should create legal instruments to guarantee those working in the recycling sector will continue to have jobs.