The Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) has expressed concern over the Senate’s approval of amendments to the country’s General Law on Integrated Solid Waste Management and Co-processing, saying the proposal requires a more comprehensive technical review and broader consultation with the productive sectors.
The organization argues that the new financial contributions established under the bill were introduced without publicly available technical studies, calculation methodologies or impact assessments to justify the proposed amounts. According to Asonahores, any new regulatory framework should be guided by principles of reasonableness, proportionality and fairness.
Industry Seeks Greater Technical Support for New Contributions
Aguie Lendor, executive vice president of Asonahores, said the tourism sector supports initiatives aimed at strengthening environmental protection and promoting a circular economy. However, she emphasized that these goals should be accompanied by clear rules supported by sound technical analysis.
“Sustainability and competitiveness must advance together. Contributions related to waste management should be based on objective criteria and remain proportional to the actual generation of waste, while providing legal certainty and equitable treatment for all productive sectors,” Lendor said.
Broader Business Coalition Joins the Appeal
Several other industry organizations have also voiced support for Asonahores’ position, including the Dominican Restaurant Association (ADERES), the Association of Casual Dining and Quick Service Establishments (ADECOR), the Dominican Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism (ADAVIT), the National Rent A Car Association (ANDRI), and Inverotel, which represents Spanish hotel investment groups operating in the Caribbean.
The organizations said the proposed contribution system should reflect both the type and volume of waste generated by each economic activity. They also called for incentives that strengthen recycling and waste recovery efforts while recognizing investments already made by many businesses in waste management practices.
In addition, the groups warned against provisions that could create legal uncertainty or undermine the competitiveness of businesses operating in the Dominican Republic.
Commitment to Dialogue
The associations reiterated their willingness to continue working with government authorities to develop a legal framework that strengthens the country’s solid waste management system while remaining technically sound, environmentally effective and economically sustainable.
Business groups maintain that further dialogue and technical analysis would help ensure the legislation achieves its environmental objectives without imposing disproportionate burdens on productive sectors that are already investing in responsible waste management.