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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Showing 1 - 10 of 734 results
Legislation
| 2024 |
Mauritius
The Environment Act (No. 3 of 2024).

This Act, divided into eighteen Parts, and consisting of 151 sections, provides for a modern legislative framework that ensures better protection, management and conservation of the environment. The Act defines the following relevant terms: accredited laboratory, to provide environmental data and conduct analyses of environmental samples; Central Water Authority; circular economy; climate change...

Keywords
Impacts, Plastic waste, Waste, Circular economy, Pollutants, Hazardous waste, Integrated coastal zone management, Dumping, Open dumping
Regulation
| 2024 |
India
Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

These Rules amend the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (principal Rules). Section 3 of the principal Rules are amended by substituting the definitions for phrases such as Biodegradable plastics, Importer, manufacturer and producer. The definition of seller is inserted. Rule 4 is amended which prohibits manufacturers from selling plastic used as raw material to a producer or seller not...

Keywords
Plastic waste, Waste management, Plastic packaging, Plastics, Biodegradable plastics, Compostable plastics, Extended Producer Responsibility, Waste, Recycling, Certification, Single-use plastic products, Labelling, Plastic sheets
Legislation
| 2023 |
Mauritius
The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Act, no. 3 of 2023.

This Act, consisting of 55 articles and divided into nine Parts, provides for a regulatory framework in order to ensure the environmentally safe and sound management of solid and hazardous wastes and a sustainable waste management system through the adoption of a circular economy approach focusing on waste reduction, reuse, material recovery and recycling. The Act concerns: commercial waste; waste...

Keywords
Waste, Waste management, Hazardous waste, Domestic waste, Recycling, Resource recovery, Waste prevention, Circular economy, Reuse, Waste minimization, Impacts, Waste management facilities
Regulation
| 2022 |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Plastic Packaging Tax (General) Regulations 2022

Part 2 of the Finance Act 2021 introduced the Plastic Packaging Tax and set out its framework and key definitions. These Regulations set out detailed administrative requirements for the Plastic Packaging Tax. Definitions are given to establish when a plastic packaging component is considered ‘finished,’ and therefore chargeable to the tax. It also details record keeping and weighing requirements...

Keywords
Plastic packaging, Recyclable packaging, Reusable packaging, Single-use plastic products, Taxes
Legislation
| 2022 |
Philippines
Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11898).

The Republic Act No. 11898, which amends Republic Act No. 9003, focuses on extended producer responsibility for plastic packaging waste in the Philippines. The Act aims to enhance waste management practices by holding producers accountable for the entire life cycle of their products, promoting waste reduction, recovery, and recycling. It establishes a national framework for extended producer...

Keywords
Extended Producer Responsibility, Waste management, Recycling, Waste, Plastic packaging, Solid waste, Plastics, Life cycle, Waste minimization, Resource recovery, Labelling, Recyclability, Reuse, Circular economy
Legislation
| 2022 |
Colombia
Law 2232 of 2022

With the goal of safeguarding the fundamental rights to life, health, and enjoyment of a clean environment, measures are hereby established to reduce the production and consumption of single use plastics in the national territory, provisions set forth to permit their eventual substitution by sustainable alternatives as well as their reuse, and complementary measures further established.

Keywords
Alternative plastics and plastic products, Biodegradable plastics, Certification, Circular economy, Eco-design , Economic instruments, Enforcement, Extended Producer Responsibility, Fiscal incentives, Just transition, Labelling, Life-cycle approach, Life-cycle assessment, Lightweight plastic carrier bags, Oxo-degradable plastics, Plastic carrier bags, Plastic packaging, Plastic straws, Product bans, Recycling, Single-use plastic products, Stakeholder engagement, Subsidies, Verification of compliance, Waste management, Waste management hierarchy, Waste pickers, Waste prevention
Regulation
| 2022 |
India
Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022.

These Rules amend the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (principal Rules). Rule 3 of the principal Rules is amended to add the definitions of biodegradable plastics, end of life disposal, plastic packaging, plastic waste processors, post-consumer plastic packaging waste, recyclers, reuse, and waste to energy. Rules 4 and 9 are amended. Rule 10 relating to protocols for compostable plastic...

Keywords
Plastic waste, Plastics, Plastic packaging, Waste management, Waste, Biodegradable plastics, Compostable plastics, Recycling, Multi-layered plastic packaging, Biodegradability, Reuse, Energy recovery, Organic waste, Labelling, Plastic sheets, Secondary plastics, Biodegradation, Extended Producer Responsibility, Thickness, Certification
Legislation
| 2022 |
Spain
Law 7/2022, of the 8th of April, on waste and contaminated sites for a circular economy

The primary objective of any policy on waste should be to reduce to a minimum the negative effects of waste generation and management on human health and the environment. In equal measure and in accordance with the principles governing the circular economy, said policy should have as its objective the promotion of efficient use of resources, assuming a strategic position with the consensus of...

Keywords
Alternative plastics and plastic products, Circular economy, Deposit-refund schemes , Extended Producer Responsibility, Hazardous waste, Labelling, Oxo-degradable plastics, Plastic carrier bags, Product bans, Product design standards, Recycling, Toxic waste, Verification of compliance, Waste collection, Waste disposal, Waste management, Waste prevention