Laws and Regulations
(Space dedicated solely to informing and inculcating)
New regulations governing the use of plastics in Chile are issued
Protecting the environment and reducing waste generation by limiting the distribution of single-use products in food stores , as well as promoting the reuse and certification of plastics , are some of the objectives of the project (consolidated bulletins 12,633 , 11,429, 11,809 , 12,275 , 12,516 , 12,561 and 12,641 ) approved this Tuesday, March 30, by the Chamber of Deputies and sent to a third procedure.
The text was ratified in its idea of legislating after three votes: the general rules were approved by 134 votes in favor; those of qualified quorum by 133 votes in favor; and those of constitutional organic law by 130 affirmative votes. Then, in particular, there were four votes that, in the main, came to modify the rule regarding certified plastic.
There was widespread support for the proposal in the debate, arguing that it is going in the right direction to reduce plastic waste, which, according to the figures provided, amounts to 8 million tons that enter the sea each year, plus the millions of tons that end up in landfills, lakes, parks and public roads.
It was also highlighted that microplastics often cause various diseases in people, which is not always visible and must be controlled through regulations such as this one.
However, there were also various nuances in the positions, from those who considered that the initiative is aggressive in some of its prohibitions, for which reason they called for moderation in its scope and an extension of the implementation deadlines; to those who considered the project limited, urging that new improvements be made to extend the prohibitions on the use and sale of single-use products in all commerce and to more decisively encourage the use of returnable bottles.
In addition, the need to help municipalities with resources to carry out their oversight work was raised, and a request was made to create special lines for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through the Corporation for the Promotion of Production (Corfo), to help them adapt to this law.
The following spoke at the debate: Ricardo Celis (PPD), Gaston Saavedra (PS), Sebastian Alvarez (Evopoli), Bernardo Berger (RN), Felix Gonzalez (PEV), Sebastian Torrealba (RN), Amaro Labra (PC), Cristina Girardi (PPD), Raul Leiva (PS), Esteban Velasquez (FRVS), Catalina Perez (RD), Diego Schalper (RN), Alejandra Sepulveda (FRVS), Patricio Rosas (IND), Miguel Mellado (RN), Ruben Moraga (PC), Claudia Mix (Comunes), Fernando Meza (IND) and Daniella Cicardini (PS). The Executive was represented by the Minister of the Environment, Carolina Schmidt.