Peru

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

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

Names of actions:
Ban of some single-use plastics (bags, straws, disposable utensils and tableware) and implement a customer-paid tax on the use of plastic bags

Targeted products:
Single-use plastic bags, single-use plastic straws, non-recyclable single-use plastic tableware and utensils and expanded polystyrene containers for food and drinks. Also, plastic bags and tableware and utensils containing additives that catalyze its fragmentation into microplastics.

Brief description:
The Law N°30884 does not seek to ban all types of plastic. The Law and its regulations seek that the consumption and production of single-use plastic goods migrate to reusable, recyclable or biodegradable plastic goods in order to move towards a circular economy of plastic.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Positive improvement – The Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) estimated a reduction in the consumption of singleuse plastic bags by 33%, in relation to the previous year, during the third year of the regulations. This statement is based on the information provided by the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration. This reduction is equivalent to an approximate 11,53 million plastic bags that were not used.

Names of actions:
– Clean Production Agreement, is a voluntary agreement between the government and private companies that encourages the use of alternatives to single-use plastics.
– Supreme Decree N°003-2020-PRODUCE called “Plan Towards a Circular Economy for the Industrial Sector”

Brief description:
The Clean Production Agreement is an instrument that promotes the efficient use of materials and solid waste management. These voluntary agreements aim to introduce a set of actions that go beyond compliance with current legislation, hoping that the companies would carry out activities that reduce their impact on the environment, as well as their waste production.

The Ministry is developing an additional policy framework to better manage single-use plastic. The new framework will establish provisions to better identify the products by introducing common terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labeling applicable to a product, process or production method, or others.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Seventeen Clean Production Agreements were signed between the government and private companies. Seven of them have goals related to plastic management.

Names of actions:
Law N°30884 “Law that Regulates Single-Use Plastic and Disposable Containers or Containers”

Brief description:
The Law, and all other legislation prohibit single-use plastic items including plastic bags, plastic straws, and plastic and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers, and those that contain additives that cause contamination by microplastics or hazardous substances and are not recyclable.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Comments:
The regulation entered into force in 2021 and will be evaluated during the following year.

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system

Names of actions:
Legislative Decree N°1278 “Solid Waste Management Law”.

Brief description:
The Ministry is working with the private sector to develop a comprehensive response to solid waste management. Some of the projects that are currently being financed through Public/private partnership to reduce the infrastructure gap that exist in the country. The way the partnership works is that the private sector pays their taxes out-front and the government uses the funds to build required public infrastructure to support waste management facilities in priority areas in the country.

In addition, the Solid Waste Management Law 1501, including its updates, establishes a program in which everyone must sort-out the different materials at the source which is supported by a waste collection program for the different products.

MINAM, in coordination with Ministry of Economy and Finance, through Goal 3: “Implementation of an integrated municipal solid waste management system” of the “Incentive Program for the Improvement of Municipal Management”, promotes that local governments (type A, B, C, D and E) implement a comprehensive management system of a comprehensive solid waste management system, prioritizing the recovery of organic and inorganic solid waste, in order to ensure the protection of health and the environment”.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Currently, in Peru the daily solid waste production is approximately 22 505 tons, 61.3 percent of that goes directly to landfills. In the year 2016, 23’475 tons of solid waste were either compost or recycled. In 2019, the amount of solid waste that was recycled or composted increased to 84’063 tons. In 2020, the amount of recycled or composted solid waste, decreased to 59’021 tons because of the pandemic. In 2021, the amount of solid waste that was recycled or composted* increased to 148´496,63 tons.

* The amount of solid waste that was recycled or composted, includes organic and inorganic solid waste such as: plastic, glass, metal, cardboard, paper, among others.

Names of actions:
Legislative Decree N°1278 “Solid Waste Management Law”.

Law N°30884 “Law that Regulates Single-Use Plastic and Disposable Containers or Containers”.

Brief description:
The Solid Waste Management Law provides the policy framework to support an efficient solid waste management program that regulates the process from production to final discharge.
At the same time, guidelines have been developed to help municipalities to complete local waste management plans as they are responsible for the municipal waste management programs. The non-municipal solid waste management is the responsibility of the entity that generates it. In both cases there are special entities that oversee that the requirements are being fulfilled.

The Law also establishes the responsibilities of those whose products become part of the solid waste.

In the other hand, Law 30884 prohibit the commercialization and use of single-use plastic such as plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers in the following:

(a) Natural Protected Areas
(b) National Historical and Heritage Sites
(c) Museums
(d) Pacific Ocean beaches
(e) Amazon basin beaches
(f) Public entities.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

In 2019, 53.4 percent of the solid waste ended up in a landfill. In 2020 it increased to 54.9 percent, and, in 2021, it increased to 61.3 percent.

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Names of actions:
1) Campaign “Save Beaches”.
2) Campaign to clean beaches

Brief description:
1) The objective of this campaign was to promote among citizens the proper management of waste in coastal marine areas in order to avoid contamination of beaches with single-use plastic waste such as disposable containers or containers. Environmental education sessions were held with the support of environmental promoters from MINAM, who provided messages using resources such as posters, games and flipcharts.

2) The objective is to raise public awareness of the impact of inadequate solid waste management on aquatic ecosystems, with the aim of reducing the amount of garbage present in the jurisdiction of the National Maritime Authority, such as the General Directorate of the Captains and Coast Guard. “

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Comments:
The clean-up programs that were undertaken in the coastal beaches of Peru had been affected by the pandemic as these programs are usually run by volunteers.

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)

• Technical Regulation on Biodegradable Plastic Bags (Supreme Decree No. 025-2021-PRODUCE)
• Clean Production Programs between the government of Peru and private companies
• National Competitiveness and Productivity Policy

Brief description:
On November 30, 2021, through Supreme Decree No. 025-2021-PRODUCE endorsed by MINAM, the Technical Regulation on Biodegradable Plastic Bags was approved, which establishes the technical and labeling requirements that such plastic goods must meet to be designated as biodegradable. This instrument is part of the implementation of Law 30884, which has established the exemption from the Tax on the consumption of plastic bags for those plastic bags that prove to be effectively biodegradable in accordance with the previously mentioned Technical Regulation.

Law 30884 has also established the obligation to incorporate 15% recycled material in the composition of PET bottles for beverages for human consumption, cleaning and personal care, which came into force as of December 2021.

The Clean Production Programs are instruments for the efficient use of materials and solid waste management, they are voluntary promotional instruments that aim to introduce in productive activities a set of actions that go beyond compliance with current legislation, of so that the conditions in which the owner carries out his activities are improved, in order to achieve the prevention or minimization of the generation of solid waste.

The National Competitiveness and Productivity Policy was approve on 2018 (Supreme Decree N° 345-2018-EF). It aims to achieve the well-being of all Peruvians on the basis of sustainable economic growth with a territorial approach through the implementation of cross-cutting measures. In this context, the inclusion of the Circular Economy approach is promoted within Priority Objective N ° 9 called “Promote environmental sustainability in the operation of economic activities”.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Approximately 13,000 tons of PET plastic waste were incorporated into production processes for new PET containers for food and beverages.

• Clean production Programs between the government and private companies

Brief description:
The Clean Production Programs are instruments for the efficient use of materials and solid waste management, they are voluntary promotional instruments that aim to introduce in productive activities a set of actions that go beyond compliance with current legislation, of so that the conditions in which the owner carries out his activities are improved, in order to achieve the prevention or minimization of the generation of solid waste

We see a positive improvement from last two years

From 2018 to date, 17 Clean Production Programs have been signed with the companies, but seven of them have goals related to plastics:

1. Sistema Coca Cola Perú (Coca Cola and Arca Continental Lindley),
2. Unión de Cervecerías Peruanas Backus y Johnston SA,
3. Koplast industrial SAC,
4. Peruana de Moldeados SAC (Pamolsa),
5. Natura Cosméticos SA,
6. Cencosud Retail, and
7. Embotelladora San Miguel del Sur SA.

Five of these companies have managed to achieve 100% of their goals, and have the recognition given by the Ministry of the Environment.

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

• Program “The Environmental Hour”
  The Environmental Hour is a virtual space promoted by MINAM and the Ministry of Education (Minedu) and seeks to provide specialized information to the educational community (environmental education and pedagogical specialists from DRE/GRE and UGEL, teachers, managers and students) as well as citizens on various environmental issues, in order to promote dialogue around the challenges we face in the framework of remote education. During 2020 and 2021, 05 sessions or broadcasts of the Environmental Hour were held, in which information was provided on the importance of regulating single-use plastic and disposable containers or packaging, as well as using other more environmentally friendly alternatives. the environment.
• Programa Educca
  MINAM, through the promotion and assistance actions that it has been carrying out within the framework of the EDUCCA Municipal Program, has achieved that to date 273 municipalities of 479 local governments nationwide, incorporate the promotion of responsible consumption of plastic within their activities. To carry out these actions, 33,838 environmental promoters were accredited and managed to benefit approximately 22,510,776 citizens.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

97,363 users reached by the Program “The Environmental Hour”. 273 municipalities of 479 local governments nationwide, incorporate the promotion of responsible consumption of plastic within their activities. 33,838 environmental promoters were accredited and managed to benefit approximately 22,510,776 citizens.

National level:

Brief description:

• Campaign “Less plastic, more life” (current)
  The #LessPlasticMoreLife initiative was launched on June 5, 2018, in order to promote the responsible consumption of single-use plastics such as plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam among citizens. Environmental education and information actions were carried out to raise awareness among citizens, market traders and supermarket chains about the importance of responsible consumption of plastic. It had the support of environmental promoters, municipal promoters and/or environmental leaders. This campaign has a space on the MINAM website.
• “Peru Limpio” Strategy (current)
  “Peru Limpio” is the environmental educational strategy of the Peruvian State that seeks to improve citizen practices for proper management of solid waste in the country. Since September 10, 2019, Peru Clean is considered a multisectoral and decentralized strategy and is made up of 4 communication axes that promote the active participation of the entire society: responsible consumption, cleaning, recycling and payment of taxes. To reinforce the axis of responsible consumption, within the framework of the Clean Peru strategy, messages on responsible consumption of single-use plastics were developed in campaigns and massive events. The strategy has a website with educational resources.

National level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Through the indicated and other complementary actions carried out by MINAM. From January 2019 to December 2021 there are the following achievements:

• 445 (Four hundred and forty-five) educational, training and awareness-raising actions or activities carried out on the responsible consumption of plastic and integrated solid waste management.
• 1,021,668 (one million twenty-one thousand six hundred and sixty-eight) people reached.
• 710 (seven hundred and ten) organizations reached.

Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter

Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions:
Scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Brief description:
Some scientific papers have been published such as:

• Report of microplastics in fish of importance for popular food in the Peruvian Amazon: IIAP, 2017. Fuente: CHOTA-MACUYAMA, W.; CHONG, J. 2017. Primer registro de ingestión de microplásticos por un pez de importancia comercial en la ciudad de Iquitos, Amazonía peruana. Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana – IIAP. Folia Amazónica. Revista del Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana.
• Report of microplastics in 4 beaches: Chimbote, Huacho, Ventanilla and Pisco. IMARPE 2014-2015. Fuente: Purca S. & A. Henostroza. 2017. Presencia de microplásticos en cuatro playas arenosas de Perú. Revista peruana de biología 24(1): 101 – 106 (Abril 2017).
• Report of microplastics: Weeds, Umbrellas, Fresh Water and Fishermen. Microplastics were found in all cases. In the second case, 78.3% was “technopor”. Research group, 2020. De-la -Torre, G. E., et al. (2020). Abundance and distribution of microplastics on sandy beaches of Lima, Peru. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 151.

Names of actions:
We have the Peruvian Sea Institute (IMARPE)

Brief description:
Peru participates in the voluntary nonprofit network REMARCO “Research Network on Marine-Coastal Stressors in Latin America and the Caribbean,” which has the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and which uses nuclear and isotopic techniques for peaceful use, to address the environmental problems of the marine-coastal ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean, thus contributing to the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Underwater. In March 2022, Peru became part of the Executive Committee of the Network, under the theme of contamination by microplastics.

Currently, the Peruvian Sea Institute (IMARPE) is participating in the research project “Reducing the impacts of plastic waste in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (Ecuador-Peru-Chile)”, with six universities in Chile, Ecuador, Peru and the United Kingdom, and which aims to reduce plastic dumping in the Eastern Pacific. Researchers from Peru and the United Kingdom co-lead the component related to “Understanding the impacts of microplastics on commercial fish species and products.”