Seminar on Plastic Pollution Paves the Way for New Legislation to Regulate Toxic Substances

Original article: Seminario sobre contaminación por plásticos abre camino a nuevo proyecto de ley para regular sustancias tóxicas

Plastic pollution is not solely a problem tied to waste generation and accumulation; it also encompasses impacts arising from the production and use of plastic products, including the effects of numerous toxic chemicals used in their manufacturing.

This issue was discussed at the seminar Detener la contaminaci n por pl sticos: Pol tica, ciencia y ciudadan a activa , held at the former Congress library in Santiago.

Organized by the Zero Waste Alliance of Chile, the event brought together researchers, lawmakers, social organizations, and guilds to analyze the plastic crisis from the perspectives of science, public health, human rights, and the necessary policies to address it.

Among the participants were Dr. Crist bal Galb n from the Scientific Plastic Pollution Alliance of Chile (SPLACh); Rommy Osorio, leader from the Los Lagos Region of the National Movement of Recyclers of Chile (Anarch); Deputy Gonzalo Winter (FA); Deputy Ana Mar a Gazmuri (AH); and Dr. Yuri Carvajal, president of the Environmental Department of the Medical Association.

During the seminar, discussions covered the impacts of toxic chemicals found in plastics, their effects on health and the environment, the regulatory challenges facing Chile, negotiations towards a future Global Plastics Treaty, and the risks encountered by those working in recycling.

Deputy Gazmuri emphasized the opportunity to transform citizen demands into public policies: How many harms could we avoid before this plastic becomes waste? That is where true public health policy begins, protecting people before it’s too late, stated the legislator.

Meanwhile, Deputy Gonzalo Winter announced that a bill is in progress to establish new regulations on this issue.