Uruguay

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

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

Names of actions:
– Ministerial Resolution: 272/2021

– Decree No. 3/019

Targeted products:
– Straws.

– Plastic bags.

Brief description: see here.

Comments:
In the case of – Ministerial Resolution: 272/2021 is too soon to see trends.

umerical data if any: Plastic bags reduction of 70%.

Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design

Names of actions:
– Ministerial Resolution: 271/2021

Brief description:see here.

Regulation on microplastics

Names of actions:

– Ministerial Resolution: 272/2021

Brief description: Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation (indirectly, see here. )

Others

On 2019 a diagnosis of the national situation on marine pollution by microplastics was carried out at the La Plata River and its extension.

Main Conclusions:
A set of direct and indirect probable sources were determined and quantitative estimates were made of the potential amount of MP in tons for these sources. Additionally, the amounts (T) of MP from direct sources that would be reaching the Río de la Plata and its seafront each year were estimated for some cases. It is estimated that around 197,159.4 T of indirect sources of MP are sold annually in Uruguay, represented mainly by the Industry, Construction and Packaging sectors. Regarding direct sources It is estimated that about 2,607.8 T per year of MP are released into the environment, the main sources of contamination being the abrasion of tires and the release of synthetic fibers by clothes washing.

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system

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

Names of actions:
– Ministerial Resolution: 272/2021

Brief description:
Gradual prohibition of commercialization in the protected areas incorporated into the national system of protected areas of non-returnable beverage containers and other plastic products that are the object of this resolution.

Comments:
It is too soon to see trends.

Measures

Achievements

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Name of action:
International Coastal Cleanup Day in Uruguay, 2020

Brief description:
On Saturday, November 14, 2020, the cleaning took place in 46 beaches of Uruguay (Colonia, Canelones, Maldonado, Montevideo, Rocha and San José), having collected about 5000 kg of waste. Heads of the Presidency, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Tourism participated in this activity. This day was an example of awareness. Additionally, different organizations that carry out the cleaning in the 6 coastal departments carry out educational work on how waste affects the coastal marine ecosystem and how we can act to reverse this situation.

https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-ambiente/politicas-y-gestion/dia-internacional-limpieza-internacional-costas-2020-uruguay

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’)

Names of actions:
– Decree No. 3/019

Brief description:
It prohibits the manufacture, import, distribution, sale and delivery of plastic bags that are not compostable or biodegradable.

Excludes from the previous prohibition bags made with 100% recycled materials of national origin.

Name of action:
– Ministerial Resolution: 271/2021

Brief description:
On January 1st, 2025, manufacturers, bottlers and importers of non-alcoholic beverages and waters, who sell their products in plastic containers, may only do so in containers that contain at least 40% by weight of recycled material.

Numerical data if any:
Plastic bags reduction of 70%.

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution

Names of actions:
– COTAMA – Decree Nº 261/993

The working group on the National Waste Management Plan was established within the framework of COTAMA (Technical Advisory Commission for Environmental Protection – Decree No. 261/993, June 4, 1993) and has representation from the public sector (Ministry, Academy), private (Business Chambers, Professional Associations, Academy, workers’ unions) and citizenship.

– CTPLAS
The Plastic Technology Center (CTplas) is a joint initiative of the Uruguayan Association of Plastic Industries (AUIP), the Uruguayan Chamber of Industries (CIU), the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU) and the Julio Ricaldoni Foundation (FJR) , in co-financing with the National Research and Innovation Agency (ANII), which aims to consolidate the sustainable development of the plastic and recycling industry in Uruguay through the provision of technological services that allow incorporating innovation, training and transfer technology in companies, considering aspects of competitiveness and environmental impact.

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Name of action:
Coastal Cleanup Day

https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-ambiente/politicas-y-gestion/dia-internacional-limpieza-internacional-costas-2020-uruguay

Brief description:
On Saturday, November 14, 2020, the cleaning took place in 46 beaches of Uruguay (Colonia, Canelones, Maldonado, Montevideo, Rocha and San José), having collected about 5000 kg of waste. Heads of the Presidency, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Tourism participated in this activity. This day was an example of awareness. Additionally, different organizations that carry out the cleaning in the 6 coastal departments carry out educational work on how waste affects the coastal marine ecosystem and how we can act to reverse this situation.

International / Regional level:

Names of action:
– Ministry of Environment is member of the Plastic Waste Partnership (PWP).

– Brief description:
A Plastic Waste Partnership (PWP) has been established under the Basel Convention to mobilize business, government, academic and civil society resources, interests and expertise to improve and promote the environmentally sound management (ESM) of plastic waste at the global, regional and national levels and to prevent and minimize its generation. At its fourteenth meeting, in its decision BC-14/13 , the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal:

• welcomed the proposal to establish the Basel Convention Partnership on Plastic Waste and decided to establish the Partnership and its working group;
• adopted the terms of reference for the Partnership; and
• requested the working group to implement its workplan for the biennium 2020−2021.

The goal of the PWP is to improve and promote the ESM of plastic waste at the global, regional and national levels and to prevent and minimize its generation so as to, among other things, reduce significantly and in the long-term eliminate the discharge of plastic waste and microplastics into the environment, in particular the marine environment.

Names of action:
– Ministry of Environment is member and Co-chair of the Household Waste Partnership (HWP).

– Brief description:
At the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention at its twelfths meeting in May 2015, Parties agreed to include in the work programme of the Open-ended Working Group the development of a work plan on the environmentally sound management of household waste with a focus on the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition (BC-12/13). The work plan include, but is not limited to developing guidance documents and/or manuals on, inter alia, best practices, business models and innovative solutions for the circular economy in various socioeconomic contexts, as well as a concept for a partnership to assist municipalities.

– Names of action:
Ministry of Environment is member of the Steering Committee of the Intergovernmental Network on Chemicals and Waste (Latin-American and the Caribbean or GRULAC Region).

– Brief description:
The Intergovernmental Network on Chemicals and Waste for Latin America and the Caribbean was established by Decision No. 8 of the XX Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment in Latin America and the Caribbean (28-31 March 2016). The Network has the main objective of strengthening the environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste through regional cooperation and the exchange of information and experiences among countries.

The second Action Plan developed by the Network for 2021-2024, addresses plastics and marine litter, under the following item:

Environmentally Sound Management of plastic through their whole life cycle, including marine litter and microplastics.

Identify an information tool to share and disseminate trends and gaps in plastics and marine litter regulations in the region.

Elaboration of a report/workshop of experts to evaluate public policies to reduce marine pollution and its impacts.

Capacity building to government and municipal governments on the prevention and reduction of marine pollutants.

– Names of action:
Ministry of Environment is member of the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE).

– Brief description:
Computing equipment has improved the lives of people everywhere. As global use expands, society everywhere faces new challenges from the impacts of the entire life-cycle of computing equipment. According to United Nations Environment Programme, some 20 to 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste are generated worldwide every year, comprising more than 5% of all municipal solid waste.

– Names of action:
Ministry of Environment is member of the Steering Committee of the Voluntary coalition of governments and relevant organizations for the gradual closure of dumpsites in Latin

America and the Caribbean.

– Brief description:
Within the framework of the XXI Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 9-12, 2018), the Voluntary coalition of governments and relevant organizations for the gradual closure of dumpsites in Latin America and the Caribbean was established. The main purpose of the Coalition is to develop a Roadmap for the progressive closure of dumpsites and the effective transition towards integrated waste management in the region, as well as to promote the development of technical guidelines, facilitate the strengthening of capacities and exchange of information, and raise awareness on the importance of the sound management of waste.

International / Regional level:

Comments:
Uruguay cannot access to funds such as the Special Programme (UNEP) https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/chemicals-waste/what-we-do/special-programme

Or NORAD 1/2 http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Plasticwaste/Technicalassistance/Projects/BRSNorad1/tabid/8343/Default.aspx

in plastics due to the OECD list https://www.oecd.org/dac/financing-sustainable-development/development-finance-standards/DAC-List-of-ODA-Recipients-for-reporting-2020-flows.pdf

Measures

Achievements

Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter

Engagement in international/regional level actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions:
Sampling in coastal beaches of Maldonado and Rocha.

Sampling of Maldonado stream.

Brief description:
Sampling of microplastics on beaches including analysis of polymers and pollutants.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.041

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137734

Sampling of microplastics transported by the Maldonado stream.

Member of REMARCO:
https://remarco.org/remarco/