#ChaoBolsasPlásticas: Law banning Chilean stores from providing plastic bags begins to take effect today
Large stores may provide only two bags per purchase for the next six months but thereafter they are banned from providing any bags.
With its publication in the Official Gazette, Law No. 21,100 banning the provision of plastic bags at stores throughout Chile goes into effect today. The law was introduced by President Sebastián Piñera’s government.
There will be an adaptation period of six months for large stores and two years for SMEs and small stores. After that time, bags will not be provided.
During the adaptation period, stores may provide a maximum of two plastic bags per customer.
Failure to comply, which must be overseen by the municipalities, carries a fine payable to the municipality of up to 5 UTM (more than $230,000 Chilean pesos) for each bag provided.
President Piñera, together with Environment Minister Marcela Cubillos, marked the publication of the new law with a press conference on Paseo Ahumada in downtown Santiago. They distributed cloth bags and welcomed the fact that Chile is the first country in Latin America to prohibit plastic bags throughout its entire territory.
“We are really pleased to have taken a step in the right direction. We want to change the Chilean lifestyle. We are making great efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle: more sports, healthier diets, enjoying nature more and spending more time with family. Today, we want to transition from a disposable culture, where everything is used and discarded, to a healthy recycling culture and a circular economy,” said the President.
Minister Cubillos added that “the damage they (bags) cause justifies this law, which is meant to change habits so that all Chileans contribute to doing something for the environment. It is not that difficult; it’s just a change in habit that sends us in the right direction.”
► For more information on the law, visit chaobolsasplasticas.cl or read the new law in the Official Gazette.
Starting today, you will only receive 2 plastic bags with your purchase.
WHEN WILL PLASTIC BAGS BE COMPLETELY BANNED?
6 MONTHS for big stores
2 YEARS for small stores