Civil organizations ask the Congress of the Republic to prioritize the debate on the law to regulate the consumption and manufacture of disposable plastics before the end of this legislature.
There are only a few days left until the end of this legislature and the plenary session of Congress has not yet debated the approval of the law to regulate single-use plastics, despite the fact that four committees in Parliament have already given their approval.
The severity of plastic pollution requires the rapid adoption of a public policy to reduce the consumption of products such as shopping bags, sherbets, food containers made of expanded polystyrene (technopor), plates, glasses and plastic cutlery, among others.
Recently, the Ministry of the Environment (Minam) issued a statement stating that there is scientific evidence on contamination of the environment and health due to the increase in plastic waste , so it asked congressmen not to delay the debate on this standard and its approval.
Along these same lines, the undersigned organizations call on parliamentarians not to postpone this debate any longer nor to block the approval of an urgent regulation due to its implications for the public health of all Peruvians.
It should be noted that the technical debate has been in the Legislative for almost a year, during which time more than 20 bills have been presented. As a result of this debate, and thanks to the consensus among the benches, businessmen, the technical advice of the Minam and the contributions of civil society , it has been possible to approve opinions in four commissions: Andean, Amazonian and Afro-Peruvian Peoples, Environment and Ecology; Commission for the Economy, Banking, Finance and Financial Intelligence; Commission for Decentralization, Regionalization, Local Governments and Modernization of State Management; and the Production Commission.
In the country, it is not only environmental organizations that are in favor of this law, but also companies, large and small such as supermarkets, food chains and restaurants, that have joined the fight against plastic pollution.
Peru cannot stand idly by in the face of plastic pollution. According to Minam, 947 thousand tons of plastics are consumed in the country a year, 75% end up being waste and only 0.3% is recycled. While we wait for regulation, the amount of plastic waste will continue to accumulate in landfills and nature for hundreds of years.
We must also bear in mind that the approval of this law will facilitate the implementation of educational and commercial programs that will allow the population, companies and institutions to improve their production and consumption practices. This improvement will mean savings in waste disposal and restoration programs. of ecosystems.
Finally, this law will mark the beginning for further research that will later determine future standards that seek to harmonize development with human health and care for the ecosystem, on which we all depend.
Congressmen, don’t wait any longer.
# LeyDePlásticos NOW!
THEY SIGN:
Oceana Peru, Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), Oxfam Peru, WWF Peru, LOOP, MOCICC, B-Green Peru.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.org to learn more.