Environmental tax rates will increase in Russia starting in 2026

Russia is preparing to update the environmental levy rates for manufacturers of goods and packaging and increase them from 2026. This follows from a draft government decree prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which was reviewed by Izvestia on August 11.

The new parameters will affect 52 product groups. According to the document, the base rates will be differentiated taking into account the complexity of waste processing, technological capabilities, the demand for secondary raw materials, as well as the number of possible material recycling cycles. The more environmentally friendly the packaging or product, the lower the coefficient when calculating the fee.

The rate will increase the most for hard-to-recycle packaging made of polymer-aluminum materials used, in particular, for sauces and similar products. Due to the almost complete impossibility of its processing, its eco-collection will increase by 91%. The minimum change — by only 5% — will affect rubber products. On average, rates in other categories will increase by 50-80%. For example, for paper and cardboard — by 83%, for glass — by 53%, for textiles — by 77%, for plastic — by 80%, for wood — by 50%, and for batteries — by 72%.

"All funds raised will be used to finance waste management infrastructure, including the construction of new recycling facilities. This will ensure a long—term positive effect for both the environment and the economy as a whole," the Russian Environmental Operator (REO) explained to Izvestia.

The new rates will be economically reasonable, unlike those that are in effect today, the REO added. For example, for combined packaging for sauces in 2024, the government set a rate of 2,953 rubles per ton, when, as of 2026, the economically reasonable rate reaches 32,054 rubles.

According to the Russian environmental Operator, an increase in eco-collection rates in 2026 will not have a serious impact on price growth. The company noted that the contribution to overall inflation will be about 0.3%. Food prices will rise the most, by an average of 0.54%. This applies primarily to those products where the proportion of packaging is high: dairy products, pasta, canned goods, juices, butter and eggs. Non—food products will increase in price less - by about 0.28%.

Here, the growth will primarily affect household chemicals, appliances, paper products and textiles. At the same time, a number of goods, such as gasoline, furniture, medicines and cars, will not be affected by the eco-collection.

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On August 7, the REO reported that a massive update of waste removal standards is being prepared in the regions of Russia, which are used to calculate the tariff for their export. It was noted that measurements are a simple and accurate way to understand how much waste is actually accumulating and make tariffs as fair as possible.

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