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
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- Other actions
Year
Law and Plastics Taxonomy
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Compliance and enforcement
(188)
- Enforcement (180)
- Verification of compliance (29)
- Emissions and releases (72)
- Impacts (7)
- Littering (18)
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Marine litter
(41)
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Microplastics
(23)
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Primary microplastics
(8)
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- Plastic polymers (139)
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Synthetic polymers
(88)
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Polyolefins
(53)
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- Bioplastics (3)
- Oxo-degradable plastics (23)
- Thermoplastics (2)
- Policy approaches (247)
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Economic instruments
(124)
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Fiscal incentives
(24)
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Short-lived plastic products
(290)
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Plastic packaging
(262)
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Plastic carrier bags
(195)
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Alternative plastics and plastic products
(109)
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Biodegradable plastics
(92)
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Product design standards
(13)
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Dumping
(5)
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Hazardous waste
(154)
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- Waste management hierarchy (160)
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- Reuse (4)
- Waste prevention (64)
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Resource recovery
(87)
- Recycling (87)
Showing 41 - 50 of 139 resultsEnvironmental Protection (Cotton Buds) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. No. 271 of 2019).| 2019 |Regulation
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandThese Regulations prohibit the manufacture and the sale of plastic stemmed cotton buds (a rod of plastic which has cotton wrapped around both ends). It shall be an offence for a person to manufacture, supply, offer to supply, or have in their possession for supply, any plastic stemmed cotton bud. The Regulations also provide for powers of entry and examination etc. for purposes of these...
KeywordsPlastic polymers, Plastic waste, Waste management hierarchyControl of Disposable Plastics Act No.11 of 2019.| 2019 |Legislation
BarbadosRepealedThis 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...
KeywordsPlastic utensils, Single-use plastic products, Waste prevention, Plastic containers, Plastic carrier bags, Plastic straws, Polystyrene, Labelling, Plastics, Fines, Plastic packagingLaw for the Prohibition of Expanded Polystyrene, Reform of the Law for Comprehensive Waste Management| 2019 |Legislation
Costa RicaKeywordsExtended Producer Responsibility, Plastic waste, Polystyrene, Waste management hierarchyProhibition that the Bodies of the Ministry of Environment and Energy and their Institutional Suppliers Acquire "Disposable" Single-Use Plastic Products for Food Consumption| 2019 |Regulation
Costa RicaKeywordsPlastic polymers, Plastic waste, Single-use plastic productsReturnable Containers (Amendment) Act No. 59 of 2019.| 2019 |Legislation
BarbadosThis Act deletes the the definition “beverage container” and inserts the defibition of “container” as a separate, sealed glass, metal, aluminium, steel or plastic bottle, can, jar, carton or other receptacle which may consist of other materials that are recyclable or reusable and is capable of holding 3.8 litres or less. This Act replaces the Schedule of the Principal Act by the text set out in...
KeywordsPlastic beverage containers, Plastic containers, Plastic packaging, PolyethyleneLaw No. 30884, Law that Regulates Single-Use Plastic and Disposable Containers or Containers| 2018 |Legislation
PeruLa 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...
KeywordsBiodegradable plastics, Compostable plastics, Enforcement, Extended Producer Responsibility, Fiscal incentives, Microplastics, Plastic waste, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Single-use plastic products, Waste management hierarchyWaste Minimisation (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulations 2018| 2018 |Regulation
New ZealandThese regulations, which come into force on 1 July 2019, prohibit retailers from selling plastic shopping bags in New Zealand for the purpose of distributing goods sold by the retailers. The regulations define plastic as including any plastic material that is manufactured from any source, whether or not it is designed to degrade in a particular way. This definition includes plastic that is...
KeywordsBiodegradable plastics, Compostable plastics, Plastic carrier bags, Plastic waste, Polypropylene, Waste management hierarchyWaste Management Regulations Order No. 65 of 2018.| 2018 |Regulation
ZambiaKeywordsEnforcement, Extended Producer Responsibility, Plastic carrier bags, Plastic polymersResolução do Conselho de Ministros n.º 141/2018| 2018 |Legislation
PortugalPromove uma utilização mais sustentável de recursos na Administração Pública através da redução do consumo de papel e de produtos de plástico.
KeywordsCircular economy, Plastic waste, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Recyclable packaging, Reusable packaging, Single-use plastic products, Waste management hierarchyMarine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act, 2006 Amendments 2018| 2018 |Legislation
United States of AmericaKeywordsEnforcement, Marine litter, Plastic polymers, Waste management hierarchyPagination
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Plastic carrier bags
(195)
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Plastic packaging
(262)
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Primary microplastics
(8)