National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, Statutory Instrument no. 20 of 2026.

These Regulations, implementing section 34 of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act, aim at: implementing measures targeted at minimising and controlling waste generated by the indiscriminate disposal of plastics and plastic products; establishing organisational procedures for the management of plastic waste, in line with the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management; reducing the releases of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from plastic products and packaging; ensuring that persons engaged in tho plastic product ecosystem implement circular economy practices, and replace plastic products having non-environmentally friendly materials with sustainable alternatives; promoting the adoption of sustainable and environment-friendly practices in the management of plastic waste, including promoting and adopting alternatives to plastic packaging, and use of reusable plastic containers and products; combatting the harmful effects of plastic products and waste on human health and the environment; ensuring that relevant authorities monitor and control the trans-boundary movement of plastic products and plastic waste; operationalising a multi-stakeholder extended producer responsibility framework that will enable an environmentally sound management of plastic products and waste; ensuring progressive minimum content ratios for food-contact recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) material in food and beverage packaging; enhancing collection of statistical data on the environmentally sound management of plastic waste; fostering international action and initiatives under national regulatory frameworks. The Regulations apply to issues relating to plastic wastes control; persons involved in plastics, plastic by-product, and plastic materials production, import, distribution, retail or sale, purchase and consumption value chain, and plastic waste management.
Further matters covered by these Regulations include: institutional responsibility and powers of the Agency; responsibilities and powers of relevant authorities; standards for the control and management of plastic waste; polluter pays principle; issuance of permits and licences; plastic waste control measures; prohibition against importation of waste and indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste; monitoring discharge of effluents; plastic waste collection and disposal management; compliance with Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedures of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS); enforcement powers; compliance with pollution abatement measures; owners' environmental liability; offences relating to plastic waste management facilities.