Dominican Republic

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws)

Numeral 2 of Paragraph II of Article 172 of Law 225-20

Targeted products: Single-use plastic sleeves

Brief description: Commercial establishments are obliged to reduce delivery and use of single-use plastic sleeves from 12 months after the enactment of the law up to 36 months.

We do not see any particular trend

The application of this action will be carried out within a period of 3 years (36 months) from the enactment of the law in October 2020

Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) National Plan and specific plans for waste, Article 57 and following of Law 225-20.

Brief description: It is the special regime of waste management that has the purpose of guaranteeing that producers, importers and marketers are responsible for the correct handling of waste in the post phases industrial and post consumer.

A specific national plan will be carried out for each priority waste, taking into account to the amount of generation, dangerousness or difficulty of handling.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

With the promulgation of Law 225-20, it is necessary to comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Regulation on microplastics

General Law 225-20 on Comprehensive Management and Co-processing of Solid Waste of the Dominican Republic, October 2, 2020.

Brief description: Provisions that regulate the waste of clothing, fishing articles, plastic waste from everyday use and industrial processes.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

With the enactment of Law 225-20 we have these provisions to regulate microplastics.

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system

Creation of the Program for Comprehensive Waste Management (PROGIRS)

Brief description: The Program for Comprehensive Waste Management (PROGIRS) was created as an administrative unit of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in charge of complying and enforcing the obligations derived for the application of Law 225-20, especially those that correspond to the ministry, including the enforcement of proper waste management system.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean

Creation of the Program for Comprehensive Waste Management (PROGIRS)

Brief description: The Program for Comprehensive Waste Management (PROGIRS) was created as an administrative unit of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in charge of complying and enforcing the obligations derived for the application of Law 225-20, especially those that correspond to the ministry, including the prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Beach Cleaning Day

Brief description: Annual Beach Clean-ups, organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources with the support of key public and private stakeholders, throughout the national territory.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Promotion of innovative solutions

Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design - including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on)

6th. Edition of the National Award for Cleaner Production

Brief description: The National Prize for Cleaner Production is a mechanism used by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to promote and encourage the implementation of the cleaner production strategy to achieve progress towards an efficient and sustainable use of resources in the Dominican Republic.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution

Promulgation of Law 47-20 on Public-Private Partnerships on February 21, 2020

Brief description: The purpose of this law is to establish a normative framework that regulates the initiation, selection, award, contracting, execution, monitoring and extinction of public-private partnerships including the public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

Law 225-20 provides for the creation of communication plans for education and social participation as an instrument of policy for the integral management of solid waste, Article 47

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Law 225-20 provides for the creation of communication plans for education and social participation as an instrument of policy for the integral management of solid waste, Article 47

Local level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years