Czech Republic

Have any regulations or guidelines already been implemented?

There is no regulation or guideline concerning the extended liability of textile producers.

The latest amendment to Act No. 541/2020 Coll., Waste Act, effective from January 2021, only requires municipalities to introduce sorting container also for textiles as of 1 January 2025. It also introduces “textile” as belonging to municipal waste mixed and sorted household waste.

Is there any upcoming relevant legislation or guidelines? 

What is the timeline for implementation?

No upcoming relevant legislation or guidelines on EPR.

What are the general rules?

No general rules concerning the extended liability of textile producers.

Municipalities are obliged to designate sites for separate collection of municipal waste, at least for hazardous waste, paper, plastics, glass, metals, biological waste, edible oils and fats, and, from 1 January 2025, textiles.

Municipalities are obliged to ensure that separately collected recyclable components of municipal waste (which will include textiles) will amount to at least 60% in the calendar year of 2025 and subsequent years, to at least 65% in the calendar year of 2030 and subsequent years, and to at least 70% in the calendar year of 2035 and subsequent years of the total amount of municipal waste generated in a given calendar year.

Separately collected textiles suitable for reuse or recycling shall not be sent for waste incineration in energy recovery facilities or for disposal, except for the waste generated during their processing.

What are the products involved?

Czech Waste Act regulates “textiles” in general.

What are the enforcement measures and sanctions in case of violation?

There are no enforcement measures and sanctions introduced for the producers of textile waste and in connection to EPR.

In general, a municipality commits an offence by failing to:

- collect municipal waste;
- designate sites for the separate collection of municipal waste.

To ensure that the specified proportion of separately collected recyclables in the total amount of municipal waste is met (with a possible fine of up to 10,000,000 CZK).

Which are the responsible authorities or bodies?

Czech Environmental Inspectorate or municipal authority of a municipality with extended competence depending on the offence committed.