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Chile: New law requires the use of single-use plastic
Establishments that do not comply with the Law will be affected and must cancel sanctions
Restaurants and food outlets will not be able to use plastic containers in their home deliveries, nor in consumption in establishments, according to the new Law on single-use plastics.
Starting this Sunday, straws, for drinks, cutlery, straws, glasses and food containers will be prohibited in Chile.
The law that will come into force, will be responsible for controlling the use of plastics in establishments. This measure is to encourage the culture of recycling.
Marcelo Fernández, the deputy minister of the Environment, said that this new measure will reduce more than 23,000 tons of single-use plastic per year, which causes great damage to the environment.
The Recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility Law (REP) was enacted in the country in 2016. It requires the reuse and collection of products by progressively setting the purpose of recycling glass, paper, tires, paper and plastics, and other items such as electronics, lubricating oils, and batteries.
The delivery of some plastic articles is prohibited by the new Law. However, a period of time of up to three years will be granted, so that all food establishments such as cafeterias, restaurants and other premises, adapt and the food is sold in reusable containers for customers who ask for delivery.
In the case of delivery, some of the food must be in containers other than plastic. In case of being prepared food, it could be in plastic as long as it is partially or totally composed of material produced by renewable resources.
In supermarkets, beverages must also be received and marketed in returnable bottles.
Mark Minnevoo, executive director of Plástico Oceans Chile, believes that this new law will be received positively because it will take over a group of plastics that was outside the legislation.
According to data offered by the World Bank of Spanish or Portuguese-speaking Latin American Nations, in 2018, Chile was the second country that generates the most garbage and its recycling is very low. The first country on this list was Mexico.
Sanctions for breaking the Law
Whoever fails to comply with the new Law, will have to pay between 1 and 5 UTM, for each of the products delivered that were not in the regulations.
In the case of supermarkets, they will be sanctioned between 1 and 20 UTM, each time they do not have the returnable format. The amount will be for each day in which it is not fulfilled.
