translated from Spanish: Association of reusable bags ask Comptrollership review of key aspect in new law

Association of reusable bags of Chile (APR), orga unpacking of the main national actors in the field, will formally request the Comptroller a formal correction to the rules and regulations governing the delivery of plastic bags throughout the country.
The law, enacted July 20, 2018 and officially published on 3 August of the same year in the official journal, shall become effective February 3, 2019, the day in which corporations should be to deliver plastic bags of trade for the transport of the prod products. Small businesses have two years to implement the date of publication.
Fernanda Maturana, spokeswoman for APR, points out that “this law is clear in prohibiting the bags with raw oil but little specific regarding the type of bag bans, since our Association interpreted that it would ban only the plastic bag disposable material flexible one-time and not reusable bags that are intended to be used on average more than 125 times, as it is the case of bags of TNT and laminated polypropylene, which is proven worldwide that are the main solution e n terms of reuse and sustainability”.
In the event that the auditor’s Office do not perform interpretation in this sense, is left at the discretion of each municipality to interpret a reusable shopping bag to comply with format of bag which prohibits the law, regardless of their materiality, since the law, despite being of nationwide, gives this power to municipalities. Maturana says that “the problem of the lack of clarity in the law is that we can find different criteria of interpretation in the various communes for a bag and this could be very unfair for companies with locations in more than one commune. Why is key the Comptroller to set the same criteria of interpretation at the national level.”
In addition, the representative of the Association says that “the law today has a right spirit, but serious technical errors.” Ultimately, if we don’t reuse as the main focus, it is would be promoted back to the disposable culture through (paper bags), boxes of cardboard, etc. and the remedy will end up being worse than the disease. The reusable and disposable bag is cannot forbid at the same time, since the consumer is great the handicapped, have very few options for the transport of their products”.
This application will take place during the month of October, and due to the early entry into force of the new law, the Association of reusable bags intended to a prompt response from the Office of the Comptroller General.
 

Original source in Spanish