Besides the legal directives and regulations, the conceptual documents for the waste management control in the Slovak Republic, with the aim to define the principal needs and goals in this field, are successfully used. Waste management programmes worked out particularly for the waste management field are the most important conceptual materials. They are elaborated at the national and regional levels as well as the level of individual waste producers.

The obligation to draw waste management programmes is stipulated by law in Slovakia. This system was introduced in 1993 when the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic drafted the Waste Management Programme approved by the Government later on. This Programme has been worked out on the basis of the national waste balance and analysis of the waste management situation and needs. It comprises objectives and measures proposed for the years 1996, 2000 and 2005. They were incorporated later on into the "Strategy Principles And Priorities of The State Environmental Policy In The Slovak Republic" approved by both, the Govemment and National Council ( Parliament) of the Slovak Republic. Waste management programmes of individual districts and waste producers have been drawn based upon the Waste Management Programme of the Slovak Republic.

The significance of the waste management programmes together  with the conceptual materials at all levels was unambiguously confirmed in  1993-1996 . The actual status of the waste management was analysed and new wayof handling existing problems was proposed. The waste management programmes worked out at waste producers level are of special significance. While elaborating the programmes, many waste producers recognised their obligations in this filed for the first time. When approving these programmes, environmental authorities had a chance to influence the waste producers so that they  comply with the principles and objectives of the State Environmental Policy.

For the time being, the Slovak Republic is one of few states in which the  management system is applied . This system enables to establish mutual relations among all subjects that are active in the national economy - i.e.waste  producers, state administration bodies and local authorities in villages and towns .The objectives and measure of the Waste Management Programme of the Slovak Republic defined for a period of 1993- 1996 (1 st implementation stage )  were fulfilled especially in the following:

-new landfill sites constructions;
-separated collection of municipal waste was extended;
-the amount of hazardous wastes decreased;
-sanitary waste incineration facilities constructions.

A significant improvement in the municipal waste disposal has followed after the analysis of the fulfilment of the objectives and measures included in the first implementation stage ofthe Waste Management Programme of the Slovak Republic had occurred. Over 90% of the wastes to be disposed on satisfactory landfill sites; that means new waste sites are built up according to the legislative requirements, or waste sites operated in compliance with special conditions stipulated by environrnental authorities. The separated waste collection may be considered as a significant asset in about 20% oftowns and villages. Construction of hazardous waste incineration facilities and reconstruction of two high-capacity hazardous waste incineration facilities have not been provided and the objectives as far as composting biological wastes is concerned has not been achieved to full extent.

The demands and measures defined for 1993 -1996 were the bases for updating the Waste Management Programme of the Slovak Republic. The following sources were used for updating the programme: information on the waste creation and the way of waste management; new experience in and knowledge about development in the waste management in the Slovak Republic and abroad during 1993-1996.

An update of the Waste Management Programme of the Slovak Republic was carried out within the period ofthe Slovak Republic preparation forjoining international integration bodies - OECD and European Union. Within this process, it will be necessary to harmonise the Slovak legislation with the regulations ofthese bodies and to meet further conditions. Concerning the waste management area, it will be necessary to secure such a way of waste handling which will not endanger the environment and especially establish conditions for correct treatment and disposal ofhazardous wastes. Expected changes have to appear also in formulating the objectives and measures for the subsequent period.

A complex waste - creation balance was made in the preparatory stage of the Waste Management Programme of the Slovak Republic until the year 2000. For this purpose a regional information system on wastes has been used at national scale  for the first time .Further needful data were obtained from environmental authorities and sectors  When performing a survey, it was found out that an amount of 25.7 million tonnes of wastes was created on the territory of the Slovak Republic. The amount of 19.5 million tonnes of the total belonged to the " other-waste " category and remaining 6.2 milion tonnes was classified as a special waste . The special waste  category included also municipal waste at the amount of 1.6 million tonnes an hazardous waste at the amoun of 2.5 million tonnes. Production of wastes was reducted by 25% in 1995 compared to the year  1992 when the first complex balance of the produced waste was made. Based on the analysis on the waste management development in 1993-1996, the objectives and measures for the period of 1997-2000 and prospectively up to the year 2005 were defined as follows :
- ensure proper waste treatment and disposal ;
- construct hazardous and municipal waste incineration facilities which were  not provided in the proceding period ;
- intensification of composting biological waste ;
- establish conditions to increase recycling of reusable materials ;
- liquidation of old waste sites and environmental burdens
The Waste Management Programme of the Slovak Republic Until the Year 2000  was approved by the Slovak Government. Regional state administration bodies have used this programme for drawing their own waste management programmes. To cycle the updating waste management programmes at all levels in 1997, the waste producers are being updated as well. There is a real anticipation that the updated waste management programmes will be worked out at a qualitatively higher level; that would enable to achieve a substantial improvement in the state of the environment.