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Amendments to the law “On Production and Consumption Wastes” and the Budget Code of the Russian Federation, which introduced the concept of “waste collection,” were adopted in record time: less than a month passed from the moment the project was approved by the profile committee to be signed by the president! In these two weeks, three hearings were held in the Duma, and even approval in the Federation Council.
Over the previous 10 years, deputies 19 times proposed various amendments to this law, and 18 times rejected them by a majority of votes … This time they went without a hitch without a hitch. As it was written in the explanatory note to the project, it “establishes the legal basis for the development in Russia of a system for utilization of … vehicles”. Who would argue, the country needs to get rid of junk. The fleet in Russia is not young: in 2013, it will be necessary to dispose of about 1.5 million cars, in 2015 - more than 2 million, and then at the same pace. Fees for these purposes are charged in many countries of the world. The appearance of such in our country is justified; however, it is necessary to build from scratch a new industry.
On July 20 the website of the Ministry of Industry and Trade posted a draft government decree on recycling collection, which was to come into force on September 1. But at the end of August it suddenly became clear that the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance and others did not agree with the proposed rates. The rates were slightly adjusted, and the Prime Minister signed a decree on August 30.
Ugly for the state machine. The auto business, oddly enough, has a planned economy - but how to plan work if there are no prices? Now, everyone has feverishly set about recalculating and restructuring logistics.
In the resolution there is not a single word about what the raised funds will go to. Neither about the environment, nor about creating a recycling industry. Although we are talking about gigantic amounts: according to estimates, fees can amount to 120 billion rubles a year.
In the Netherlands, the recycling fee for passenger cars is 45 euros, in Germany - up to 100 euros, in Japan - 90–170 euros (taking into account the class of car). This is the real amount needed for disposal. In Moscow today, the disposal of one machine costs 3 thousand rubles, plus delivery to the collection point. However, the government decree sets completely different prices for used cars: from 17 thousand to 110 thousand rubles. Where do these numbers come from?
Deputy Vyacheslav Lysakov believes: “Utilization collection is nothing more than a barrier on the way of foreign cars to Russia, especially second-hand ones … At the same time, I don’t see that the utilization infrastructure is really being created. The money from the collection will simply go to the budget, mix with the rest of the funds there - and that’s all.” We agree with his opinion: this is a different form of customs barrier, and the environment is just a clumsy cover. Well, let's try to calculate how much the price of new and used cars will change from September. Those that are produced in the Russian Federation will be exempted from collection: factories will commit themselves to ensure "safe disposal of cars after loss of consumer properties." The collection does not apply to those cars that were imported to Russia before September.
But since the end of August, in connection with the entry into the WTO, barrage duties on the import of foreign cars by legal entities have been reduced - from 30 to 25%. Just in exchange for them utilization fees are introduced.
For a new car at a customs house, an individual will pay a utilization fee of 2 thousand, for a used one - 3 thousand rubles (high duties are maintained at the same rate). But if the company imports foreign cars, the calculation will be completely different. Take, for example, a 2-liter Mazda-3. A 5% reduction in duty will reduce the price by about 20 thousand, but 27 thousand rubles will be taken for its future disposal. It turns out that the "three rubles" can rise in price by seven thousand. Congratulations to the fans of this model.
With powerful cars, it’s really bad. The price of the Lexus-RX 350 may increase by 35 thousand rubles. If some crazy company decides to bring the three-year RX 350 into the country, it will have to pay 570 thousand as a recycling fee!
I am not opposed to protecting national industry. Perhaps this should be done, but then let's call a spade a spade. After all, the last owner of the car, who handed it over to the landfill, should be given money, as once the security for a bottle of beer. Or take it into recycling for free. This is recycling, and now it’s a regular tax. Our officials are wise …
