UNEP would like to thank the World Resources Institute, the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University and the University of Strathclyde for their invaluable assistance with the collation of these laws, as well as its long-standing partner FAOLEX.

 

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Regulatory Approach

  • Bans and restrictions
  • Economic instruments (taxes, levies, subsidies)
  • Extended producer responsibility (EPR)
  • Product standards, certification and labelling requirements
  • Waste management legislation
  • Combined actions
  • Other actions

Year

Law and Plastics Taxonomy

  • Compliance and enforcement (188)
    • Enforcement (180)
    • Verification of compliance (29)
  • Emissions and releases (72)
    • Impacts (7)
    • Littering (18)
    • Marine litter (41)
      • Marine plastic litter (5)
    • Maritime sources (5)
    • Pollutants (2)
    • Pollution of the marine environment (15)
  • Plastic materials and production (156)
    • Microplastics (23)
      • Primary microplastics (8)
        • Microbeads (8)
    • Monomers (1)
    • Plastic polymers (139)
      • Synthetic polymers (88)
        • Polyethylene terephthalate (27)
        • Polyolefins (53)
          • Polyethylene (33)
          • Polypropylene (36)
        • Polystyrene (60)
          • Styrofoam (2)
        • Polyvinyl chloride (4)
    • Plastics (4)
  • Plastics types (25)
    • Bioplastics (3)
    • Oxo-degradable plastics (23)
    • Thermoplastics (2)
  • Policy approaches (247)
    • Circular economy (26)
    • Economic instruments (124)
      • Deposit-refund schemes (24)
      • Fines (28)
      • Fiscal incentives (24)
        • Subsidies (1)
      • Taxes (53)
        • Levies (43)
    • Extended Producer Responsibility (70)
    • Just transition (3)
    • Life-cycle approach (19)
      • Life-cycle assessment (8)
      • Life cycle (1)
    • Product bans (75)
      • Plastic bag bans (2)
    • Regulatory impact assessments (1)
  • Problematic and avoidable plastic products (292)
    • Exempted products (9)
    • Short-lived plastic products (290)
      • Plastic packaging (262)
        • Plastic carrier bags (195)
          • Lightweight plastic carrier bags (8)
          • Very lightweight plastic carrier bags (39)
        • Plastic containers (5)
          • Plastic beverage containers (4)
          • Plastic food containers (1)
        • Plastic sheets (1)
        • Recyclable packaging (57)
        • Reusable packaging (45)
      • Single-use plastic products (112)
        • Disposable cups (1)
        • Personal protective equipment (2)
        • Plastic straws (12)
        • Plastic utensils (2)
  • Product design, composition and performance (177)
    • Alternative plastics and plastic products (109)
      • Bio-based plastics (1)
      • Biodegradable plastics (92)
        • Compostable plastics (53)
    • Product design and performance (81)
      • Certification (37)
      • Labelling (51)
      • Recyclability (1)
      • Thickness (2)
    • Product standardization (22)
      • Product design standards (13)
        • Design for recycling (1)
        • Eco-design (3)
  • Stakeholder engagement (35)
    • Consultations (6)
    • Waste pickers (9)
  • Waste management (561)
    • Dumping (5)
      • Ocean dumping (1)
      • Open dumping (1)
    • Environmentally sound waste management (1)
    • Fishing gear (6)
    • Integrated coastal zone management (8)
    • Transboundary movement of plastic waste (9)
      • Waste export (9)
    • Waste (418)
      • Domestic waste (43)
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        • Toxic waste (23)
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      • Plastic waste (260)
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    • Waste collection (59)
    • Waste disposal (131)
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    • Waste management hierarchy (160)
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      • Reuse (4)
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      • Polymer degradation (1)
      • Resource recovery (87)
        • Recycling (87)
Showing 21 - 30 of 124 results
Legislation
| 2019 |
Antigua and Barbuda
Litter Control and Prevention Act No. 3 of 2019.

This Act sets forth provisions on the appointment, duties and authorities of Litter Prevention Wardens; designation of officers of the Ministry of Health to carry out provisions of this Act; responsibilities of business owners; removal of derelict vehicles from a public place; and disposal of removed vehicles. This Act shall apply to any solid or liquid material or combination of solid and liquid...

Keywords
Enforcement, Fiscal incentives, Littering, Marine litter, Product bans, Verification of compliance, Waste disposal, Waste prevention
Regulation
| 2019 |
Uruguay
Decreto Nº 3/2019 - Se reglamenta la Ley Nº 19.655, del 17 de agosto de 2018, sobre la utilización de bolsas plásticas para contener y transportar productos y bienes entregados al consumidor.

Por medio del presente Decreto se reglamenta la Ley Nº 19.655 de 2018, relativa a la utilización de bolsas plásticas para contener y transportar productos y bienes entregados al consumidor. El objetivo de estas disposiciones es prevenir y mitigar el impacto ambiental derivado de luso de dichos materiales. Se excluyen del ámbito de aplicación las bolsas plásticas diseñadas para ser reutilizadas en...

Keywords
Enforcement, Levies, Plastic carrier bags, Plastic waste, Single-use plastic products, Waste management hierarchy
Legislation
| 2019 |
Saint Lucia
Styrofoam and Plastic Food Service Containers (Prohibition) Act No. 22 of 2019.

This Act lays down rules for the prohibition on import of styrofoam and plastic food service containers, prohibition on manufacturing, sale, use or distribution of styrofoam and plastic food service containers, and prohibition on sale of food in styrofoam and plastic food service containers. This Act shall not apply to a disposable plastic beverage container; packaged food with styrofoam and...

Keywords
Disposable cups, Eco-design , Enforcement, Plastic straws, Plastic utensils, Polystyrene, Product bans, Product design standards, Verification of compliance, Waste disposal, Waste prevention, Styrofoam, Plastic food containers, Single-use plastic products, Plastic carrier bags, Plastic beverage containers, Fines, Thermoplastics, Waste
Legislation
| 2019 |
Barbados
Repealed
Control of Disposable Plastics Act No.11 of 2019.

This Act lays down rules to prohibit the import, distribution, sale and utilization of single use plastic containers, cutlery, straws as well as prohibit the import, manufacture, distribution, sale and use of plastic bags made with a petroleum based resin. The list of exceptions includes bags for garbage, medical use, preservation of food, and a few other uses. This Act allows the import, sale or...

Keywords
Plastic utensils, Single-use plastic products, Waste prevention, Plastic containers, Plastic carrier bags, Plastic straws, Polystyrene, Labelling, Plastics, Fines, Plastic packaging
Legislation
| 2019 |
Kenya
National Sustainable Waste Management Bill
Keywords
Circular economy, Deposit-refund schemes , Domestic waste, Enforcement, Extended Producer Responsibility, Hazardous waste, Medical waste, Toxic waste, Waste management hierarchy
Legislation
| 2019 |
Barbados
Repealed
Control of Disposable Plastics (Amendment) Act No. 60 of 2019.

This Act makes amendments to the Principal Act regarding the prohibition of manufacturing, distribution, offer for sale or use of any single use petro-based plastic bags with effect from 1 April 2020 and prohibition on the importation of single use petro-based plastic bags with effect from 1 January 2020, and offences and penalties for the breach of the subsections (1), (2) or (3) of Section 4 of...

Keywords
Plastic bag bans, Single-use plastic products, Plastic carrier bags, Fines
Legislation
| 2018 |
Peru
Law No. 30884, Law that Regulates Single-Use Plastic and Disposable Containers or Containers

La presente Ley que regula el plástico de un solo uso y los recipientes o envases descartables, tiene por objeto establecer el marco regulatorio sobre el plástico de un solo uso, otros plásticos no reutilizables y los recipientes o envases descartables de poliestireno expandido (tecnopor) para alimentos y bebidas de consumo humano en el territorio nacional. Su finalidad es contribuir en la...

Keywords
Biodegradable plastics, Compostable plastics, Enforcement, Extended Producer Responsibility, Fiscal incentives, Microplastics, Plastic waste, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Single-use plastic products, Waste management hierarchy
Legislation
| 2018 |
Ecuador
Ordenanza de Productos Plásticos de un Solo Uso y Específicamente de Sorbetes Plásticos, Envases, Tarrinas, Cubiertos, Vasos, Tazas de Plástico y de Foam y de Fundas Plásticas Tipo Camiseta, Inclusive Oxibiodegradables, en el Cantón Guayaquil

Mediante el Registro Oficial Suplemento 330 del 19 de septiembre de 2018 se publica la Ordenanza del Cantón Guayaquil para regular la fabricación, comercio de cualquier tipo, distribución y entrega de productos plásticos de un solo uso y específicamente de sorbetes plásticos, envases, tarrinas, cubiertos, vasos, tazas de plásticos y de foam y fundas plásticas tipo camiseta, inclusive...

Keywords
Biodegradable plastics, Circular economy, Enforcement, Fiscal incentives, Oxo-degradable plastics, Plastic carrier bags, Plastic waste, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Recyclable packaging, Reusable packaging, Single-use plastic products, Waste management hierarchy