Practices and lessons learned for the design and implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems in the Latin American region

This document is a report of a regional workshop held in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 29 November to 1 December 2023, focusing on the sharing of best practises, regulatory developments and implementation experiences related to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in Latin America. Organised by the Ministry of Environment of Uruguay, UNEP, ISWA and UNIDO, the event brought together government officials, private sector representatives, academia and civil society from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay to share knowledge, identify common challenges and explore joint approaches to promote EPR, particularly in the plastics and packaging sectors. Detailed national case studies illustrate the different legal frameworks, operational hurdles and successes, while the outcomes of the workshop highlight the need for improved traceability, stakeholder engagement, regulatory coherence, social inclusion of recyclers and regional harmonisation. The document also contains actionable recommendations and proposes the creation of a regional roadmap for the development of EPR.