New Legislation on Waste Management
On May 27th, 2020, the deputies of the Special Permanent Commission for the Environment of Costa Rica approved a substitute text for draft law No. 20.565, extending responsibilities to manufacturers. This proposes amendments to articles 5, 6, 19, 35, 52, and the addition of chapter VI to Title II of the Law for Comprehensive Waste Management, No. 8839, enacted on July 13th, 2010.
These reforms introduce substantial changes related to the manufacturer's commitment. Manufacturers will now be responsible for the product throughout its life cycle, including the post-industrial and post-consumer phases. The proposal also establishes that the integral and sustainable management of waste is the responsibility of the waste generator. Additionally, this initiative creates a national education program for comprehensive waste management that is declared of public interest. The substitute text also introduces sanctions for those who commit minor infractions, with punishments of up to five times the corresponding rate according to the assigned category.
As for the obligations of consumers, they must separate the waste of priority products from recoverable materials and deposit them in designated places for proper disposal.
For more information, please contact info@orbiscompliance.com - mailto:info@orbiscompliance.com or (408) 465-7331.
Based on the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica website.