Governments in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia introduce EPR policies to boost recycling, targeting just 4% recovery of 230 million tonnes of annual waste.
Latin American governments are implementing stricter packaging regulations to address low recycling rates, with only 4% of 230 million tonnes of annual municipal waste recovered. Policies include extended producer responsibility (EPR), collection targets, and recycled content requirements, aiming to shift from linear to circular systems.
The region lags in recycling infrastructure but offers a testing ground for circular economy models. Waste pickers play a significant role in recovery, distinguishing Latin America from developed markets. Regulatory changes in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia could set precedents for global packaging practices.
Industry stakeholders view the region as a critical experiment for integrating regulation, design, and existing collection networks to improve material reuse.