What is REP waste?
REP waste is waste that is part of the Extended Producer Responsibility Law (Law No. 20,920). It establishes a series of mechanisms for the recycling of six categories of mass consumer products:
- Containers and packaging
- Tires
- Electrical and electronic equipment
- Batteries
- Batteries
- Lubricant oils
In addition to protecting human health and the environment, the REP Act is an important economic tool. It serves to redefine waste management in Chile and reduce waste disposal. It regulates recycling under the «polluter pays» principle and establishes penalties for non-compliance.
In this way, Chile becomes the pioneer country in Latin America in promoting public policies that discourage the final disposal of waste.
What are the obligations of waste producers or managers?
This legislation obliges producers or importers of priority products to extend their responsibility. It obliges them to be responsible for the management of waste derived from products marketed in the country until the end of their useful life.
To do so, they must register and record their activity in the public cadastre. In addition, they must organize and finance the treatment and collection of their waste by meeting established collection targets.
As for waste managers, they can be individuals, organizations or companies. REP law dictates that they must be registered and authorized to handle all or part of the recycling chain. From collection, storage and transportation to waste treatment.
The traceability of the waste must also be guaranteed. This process is carried out by declaring its nature, volume, costs, origin, treatment and final destination.
On the other hand, the REP law encourages the final consumer to acquire recycling habits. Separate waste, deliver it to collection sites and participate in the revaluation chain, returning the products used to reintegrate them into the ecosystem as new raw materials.
Categories of the REP Law
The products considered as priority products under the REP law (due to their level of mass consumption, size and toxicity) are divided into six integrated categories:
- Lubricant Oils: are those used in vehicle engines, mainly in transportation and industry. The waste they generate is hazardous and harmful to the environment.
- Electrical and electronic appliances: These are household appliances and telecommunication devices. Some contain plastics with additives that are harmful to human health, as well as hazardous components such as mercury or lead. They include temperature exchange devices, monitors and screens, LED lamps, fluorescent tubes and household light bulbs, photovoltaic panels, etc.
- Batteries: are parts that play a key role in the automotive industry and electromobility.
- Batteries: this mass consumption product, which is usually present in every household, is mostly single-use and may contain heavy metals that are harmful to humans and other living beings.
- Containers and packaging: these are very common products in commerce, which generate a large volume of waste, mainly plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum and tinplate waste.
- Tires: Vehicle tires are also mass-consumed and can be recycled through mechanical and chemical processes, which yield new raw materials such as rubber granules, steel, carbon black and energy.
Our service
ProCycla, offers a consulting service, accompaniment and planning of a waste management system for any type of organization, covering all the necessary requirements for compliance with the REP law, as well as national and international regulations and standards for the management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, ensuring continuous improvement and short-term benefits.
We deliver a real alternative to valorize your company’s waste, guaranteeing a service oriented to recycling or reuse according to each type of waste, always providing as evidence the traceability of them.
ProCycla is positioned throughout the recycling chain, becoming the first waste manager to collect all types of priority waste, in addition to considering storage, segregation, treatment and final recycling certificate.
