Tourism industry calls for review of Dominican waste management bill

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) has expressed concern over the Senate’s approval of amendments to the country’s General Law on Comprehensive Solid Waste Management and Co-processing, arguing that the proposal requires a more thorough technical review and broader consultation with the productive sectors.

Asonahores said the bill establishes new financial contributions without publicly available technical studies, impact assessments, or calculation methods to justify the proposed fees. Executive Vice President Aguie Lendor emphasized that while the tourism sector supports measures to strengthen environmental management and the circular economy, the regulations must be based on objective, proportional, and equitable criteria that provide legal certainty.

The association, joined by the Dominican Association of Restaurants (Aderes), the Association of Casual and Fast Food Establishments (Adecor), the Dominican Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (Adavit), the National Association of Rent A Car (Andri), and Inverotel, urged authorities to adopt a contribution system based on the type and volume of waste generated by each industry. The organizations also called for recognition of companies’ existing investments in recycling and waste management and reaffirmed their willingness to work with the government on legislation that is environmentally effective, technically sound, and economically sustainable.