Reference source : MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Colombia's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has issued Decree No. 0766 of 15 July 2026, which comprehensively updates the national regulatory framework for the generation, management, storage, utilization, and final disposal of hazardous waste (RESPEL). The Decree aims to strengthen hazardous waste management, promote the circular economy, and improve environmental oversight by introducing digital reporting and enhanced compliance requirements. It also incorporates recent amendments to the Basel Convention relating to hazardous waste management.
Key Changes
Industrial Symbiosis Framework
The Decree establishes a voluntary mechanism allowing certain hazardous waste streams to be recognized as subproducts for use in another industrial process.
To qualify, the material must:
Be generated during a production process;
Be suitable for direct use as a substitute for, or addition to, a raw material in another industrial process;
Require no treatment beyond normal industrial conditioning; and
Not create additional environmental impacts requiring new environmental permits.
Recognition as a subproduct requires a joint application from both the waste generator and the receiving facility, which is subject to authorization by the competent environmental authority.
Digital Reporting Requirements
Hazardous Waste Management Plans must be submitted electronically through the Single Environmental Registry (Registro Único Ambiental – RUA).
Certificates demonstrating hazardous waste recovery, valorization, or final disposal must also be uploaded to the RUA according to the implementation schedule established by the Decree.
Annual Training Obligation
Hazardous waste generators are required to provide annual training to personnel involved in hazardous waste management to strengthen compliance and safe handling practices.
Enhanced Storage Requirements
The Decree establishes minimum technical requirements for on-site hazardous waste storage, including:
Clearly designated storage areas;
Protection from weather conditions;
Appropriate signage;
Spill containment measures; and
Maintenance of physical or digital inventory records for waste movements.
Existing facilities are provided a transition period to comply with the new storage standards.
Business Impact
The new industrial symbiosis mechanism may allow companies to recover value from qualifying hazardous waste streams while reducing disposal costs and supporting circular economy objectives. Companies generating hazardous waste in Colombia should review their waste management practices, evaluate potential reuse opportunities, and prepare for the new digital reporting, training, and storage requirements.
Summary
Decree No. 0766 modernizes Colombia's hazardous waste management framework by introducing a pathway for the industrial reuse of eligible hazardous waste as subproducts, thereby supporting circular economy initiatives. It also strengthens compliance through enhanced storage standards, mandatory annual training, and digital reporting via the Single Environmental Registry (RUA), requiring businesses to update their hazardous waste management practices.