Chile proposes regulatory changes to strengthen packaging EPR implementation

CHILE – Chile’s Ministry of the Environment has published a set of technical proposals aimed at strengthening the implementation of the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for packaging.

This move reflects a growing collaboration between government bodies, industry stakeholders and municipalities to address practical challenges in the system’s rollout.

The proposals form part of Chile’s broader effort to advance circular economy practices under Law 20.920, which established EPR obligations for priority products, including packaging (envases y embalajes).

While the framework has laid the foundation for improved waste management, stakeholders have identified operational and regulatory barriers limiting its effectiveness.

The recommendations emerged from a collaborative diagnostic process led by the Mesa Ejecutiva para la Productividad (MEP), a government-facilitated working group coordinated by Chile’s economic development agency Corfo and the Ministry of the Environment.

Participants included producer responsibility organizations (PROs), municipal associations, industry bodies and public agencies involved in waste management and recycling.

The MEP process identified four priority challenges affecting packaging EPR implementation.

These include misalignment between mandated collection and recycling targets and existing system capacity; inefficiencies in procurement and tendering processes; limited participation by consumers and municipal authorities; and insufficient flexibility in the design and execution of EPR management plans.

Based on this diagnostic, stakeholders developed evidence-based, operational proposals focused on improving system efficiency, traceability and economic sustainability, while maintaining the environmental objectives of the EPR framework.

The technical recommendations were formally submitted to the Ministry of the Environment in mid-January 2026 as part of the ongoing review of Supreme Decree No. 12.

This decree is a key regulatory instrument that sets phased recycling and valorization targets for packaging placed on the Chilean market and defines producers’ obligations to organize and finance waste management systems.

Officials noted that sustained collaboration between public and private actors is essential to ensure that EPR targets are achievable across Chile’s diverse regions, particularly where recycling infrastructure and municipal capacity vary significantly.

The proposed adjustments are intended to balance regulatory ambition with operational feasibility, supporting long-term compliance and system stability.

Chile’s EPR law requires producers of priority products to participate in authorized management systems, meet collection and recycling targets, and comply with reporting and performance requirements.

Under the packaging category, targets are being progressively increased to drive higher recycling rates and material recovery.

Industry stakeholders have highlighted the importance of regulatory clarity and flexibility, especially for smaller producers and municipalities with limited technical and financial resources.

The Ministry’s review of Decree No. 12, informed by the MEP proposals, is expected to play a critical role in refining Chile’s packaging EPR framework and strengthening the country’s transition toward a more circular, resilient waste management system.

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