In the Czech Republic, the bin fee is one of the common payments that citizens have to make. Although this is a seemingly routine matter, many people are still unclear about it. Who has to pay, what about paying for my children’s bins, what if I have a cottage, or how do I find out if I have a debt? We will address all of these questions in the following article.
The bin charge is a mandatory payment that most people in the Czech Republic pay to ensure waste collection and disposal. This obligation is regulated by the Local Tax Act. Individual municipalities may specify the rules by means of general binding ordinances.
According to the amendment to the Local Fees Act, there are two types of municipal waste fees, namely the fee for the municipal waste management system and the fee for the disposal of municipal waste from immovable property. A municipality may introduce only one of these fees, with the classic bin fee being the latter.
The main purpose of the municipal waste charge is to cover the costs associated with the collection, sorting and disposal of waste. It allows municipalities to ensure the regular collection of bins, the operation of collection yards or the disposal of illegal dumps. The legal basis for this obligation can be found in Act No. 565/1990 Coll., on local taxes.
At the same time, each municipality has the right to lay down conditions in its general binding decree. Therefore, the amount of the fee may vary not only between towns but also between districts. In Prague, for example, the rate depends on the volume of the container and the frequency of collection, while in smaller municipalities it is usually set at a flat rate per person.
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Residents
Every citizen of the Czech Republic who is a permanent resident of a particular municipality is obliged to pay a fee for waste collection in that municipality. Whether a student, pensioner or worker, everyone has the same rules. Exceptions may occur only if the municipality provides by ordinance for exemptions for certain groups of residents (e.g. children under one year of age).
Property owners
If you own a property where no one resides, you as the owner must pay the fee. This scenario is common for vacation cottages and cabins. For example, if you have a cottage in the Giant Mountains where you do not have permanent residence, you will pay the fee at the property location.
Foreigners and non-residents
An interesting issue is the payment of waste by foreigners. If a foreigner owns a property in the Czech Republic, he/she has to pay the fee even if he/she does not live here permanently. Similarly, temporary residents may become payers if a municipal ordinance so provides.
Each municipality has its own rules for paying for garbage. Check with your local municipal or town office to find out. However, municipalities now offer a wide range of options for paying the waste collection fee:
If you are not sure how to pay your bin fee or how much to pay in the first place, contact your local authority. Information about the fees is also usually available on the council’s website.
In some European countries, such as Germany and Austria, the fee is calculated on the basis of the amount of waste actually produced. Each household has special bags or chips on their bins to record how much waste they throw away.
Tip: Did you know that you also don’t have to pay court fees in some cases? Read our article about court fees. We will advise you on the cases in which you do not have to pay court fees or the conditions and amounts of court fees.
Do you want to know if you have paid your bin charge properly to avoid late payment penalties? The process is simple and again you have several options:
In the case of a debt, a payment plan or other means of settlement can often be agreed.
Tip: Are you in debt and don’t know how to get out of it? Insolvency can help you. Find out more about this method of debt relief in our article.
Of course, not paying your bin charges puts you at risk of fines and you certainly won’t avoid the charge in the end anyway. Municipalities can take various measures in the event of non-payment. For example, you can expect a penalty fee (usually 0.05% per day of the amount owed).
A more extreme case is foreclosure of the property. While this is a last resort, it is used by municipalities when you have been ignoring your obligations for a long time. Therefore, we highly recommend that you make sure to make timely payments and communicate with the office when any problems arise.
Municipalities can sometimes exempt other specific groups of their residents from paying garbage fees. We have already mentioned above, for example, students staying abroad for a long time or newborn babies. In some places, however, seniors in retirement homes, children in children’s homes or people with severe disabilities, for example, are also exempted from paying for waste.
In order to be exempted from paying the fee, the person usually has to apply for an exemption and provide written documents proving, for example, studies, health conditions, etc.
The dumpster fee is a legal obligation that helps ensure the collection and disposal of waste. It is paid by residents, non-residents and often children. The rules and the amount of the fee vary according to local ordinances. Be sure to pay on time, as unpaid fees can lead to penalties or even foreclosure. Municipalities may exempt certain groups of residents (for example, newborns, seniors or students abroad) from paying if they provide the necessary documents. If you are not sure how to proceed, do not hesitate to contact the municipality or use the electronic systems offered by some municipalities. And if you are already in dispute, contact us.
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Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 10 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
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