Overview

National Law 20920 for the "Extended Producer Responsibility and Recycling Promotion" was published in June 2016. This law defines the roles and responsibilities of the "Producers" and establishes the mechanisms for managing key waste streams to ensure proper environmental treatment for recycling and/or final disposal.

Priority Products

Portable primary and secondary batteries of all kinds are identified as "Priority Products". These will require Integral Management Systems for collection, reverse logistics, temporary storage, sorting, and conditioning for either local treatment, exportation, or final disposal.

Regulatory Framework

Each Priority Product category will be regulated by a Supreme Decree that the Ministry of Environment will develop in collaboration with each industry sector. This will begin with categories that have a significant environmental impact and high volumes of waste, such as "Oils and Lubricants", "Packaging and Containers", "Automotive Tires", "Automotive Batteries", and "e-waste". Regulations for these categories are expected to be established during the second half of 2017 and the first half of 2018.

Batteries are scheduled to begin their regulatory process in the second half of 2018, with the launch of the actual stewardship program anticipated for early in the second half of 2019.