Batteries and Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

Targets and Obligations for Batteries and Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

On May 7, 2026, Supreme Decree No. 22/2025 of the Ministry of the Environment (“Decree”) was published in the Official Gazette, establishing collection and recovery targets and other associated obligations for batteries and electrical and electronic equipment, within the framework of Law No. 20.920 (the EPR Law) on extended producer responsibility (“EPR”).

Regulated Batteries and Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

The Decree applies to batteries and electrical and electronic equipment (“EEE”) introduced into the national market. For EEE, it distinguishes three categories: temperature exchange equipment (TEE), photovoltaic panels (PVP), and other EEE. Batteries constitute a single category and include electrochemical sources weighing less than 5 kg, excluding lead-acid batteries. Microenterprises are not subject to targets or associated obligations, but must report annually through the RETC Single Window platform.

Collection and Recovery Targets.

The general target applies to batteries and EEE other than photovoltaic panels (“PVP”). Producers of temperature exchange equipment (“TEE”) and PVP are also subject to the specific targets that apply to them, in accordance with the special rules established in the Decree (Articles 21, 23, and 25).

YearsGeneral Target for Batteries and EEESpecific Target for TEESpecific Target for PVP
1°3%n/an/a
2°5%n/an/a
3°8%6%10%
4°12%9%14%
5°16%13%18%
6°20%17%22%
7°24%21%28%
8°30%25%34%
9°37%30%42%
10°45%30%50%

Calculation Rules: the general target and the TEE target are based on the average number of tonnes introduced into the market during the previous three years; PVP uses a special formula based on estimated waste and product lifespan. Only waste collected in Chile and whose recovery is duly accredited may be counted toward compliance (Articles 22, 24, 26, and 28).

Associated Obligations.

In addition to the targets, the Decree establishes, among others, the following obligations:

  1. Producers. Register and report through the RETC Single Window platform; organize and finance collection, storage, transportation, and treatment throughout Chile; and ensure waste management is carried out by authorized and registered waste managers (Art. 8).
  2. Retailers. Establishments open to the public with more than 400 m² must agree to and operate collection points, receive waste from the categories they market free of charge without requiring a new purchase, and display visible information for consumers (Art. 29).
  3. Coverage of Large Collective Management Systems (“GRANSIC”). Operate collection facilities according to municipal population and conduct household collection campaigns at least twice a year, progressively increasing coverage from 10% to 80% of households nationwide (Arts. 31 and 32).
  4. Management systems. Report costs, operations, fees, participating producers, and collection mechanisms; submit progress and final reports; and, in the case of collective systems, maintain a compliance guarantee (Arts. 15 to 17 and 33).
  5. Waste managers. Register through the RETC Single Window platform, comply with applicable technical requirements and permits, and ensure that at least 75% of the products obtained from pretreatment or recovery processes are utilized as raw materials or inputs (Arts. 36 to 38).
  6. Consumers. Deliver their waste to a management system. Industrial consumers may recover their waste themselves or through authorized waste managers, provided that they comply with the required declarations and reporting obligations (Arts. 20, 40, and 46).
  7. Hazardous substances in batteries. Batteries imported into the country may not contain more than 0.0005% mercury or 0.002% cadmium, except in the cases of emergency equipment, alarms, and medical devices (Art. 42).

Compliance with Targets and Obligations.

Management obligations must be fulfilled through individual or collective management systems. GRANSICs (comprising 20 or more unrelated producers) may comply using any battery or EEE waste, subject to the restrictions applicable to each target. Titles III and IV will enter into force on May 7, 2028; first-year targets will be applied on a proportional basis, and household collection requirements will not be enforceable during the first year.


BACK
Síguenos en Instagram