Extrusion International 5-2026

61 Extrusion International 5/2026 New Plastics Recycling Regulations Drive Growth in Latin America New regulations in Chile, Colom- bia and, most recently, Brazil are in- troducing mandatory recycling and extended producer responsibility targets, reshaping the economics of the plastics industry across the re- gion. In Chile, Recupac, part of the Coipsa Group, demonstrates how advanced technology, process con- trol and strategic partnerships can transform post-consumer plastic waste into high-quality recycled raw materials. The Latin American plastics recy- cling industry is undergoing a major transformation, driven by a struc- tural shift: the growing number of regulations requiring manufactur- ers and importers to return the plas- tic they place on the market back into the production cycle. In Octo- ber 2025, Brazil enacted Decree No. 12,688/2025, regulating the reverse logistics of plastic packaging and establishing two key targets: a re- covery rate, measuring the collec- tion and proper treatment of plastic packaging, and a recycled content index, introducing a mandatory minimum recycled content of 22% from 2026 onwards, with non-com- pliance subject to nes of up to BRL 50 million. Brazil is following a path already established by its neighboring countries. Since 2016, Chile has enforced the REP Law (Law No. 20,920), targeting a 32% plastic recovery rate by 2026, while Co- lombia adopted Law 2232 in 2022, requiring PET bottles to contain a minimum of 50% recycled con - tent, increasing to 90% by 2030. The regional trend is clear: increas- ingly ambitious recycling targets and legally driven demand for re- cycled materials are creating new opportunities for companies such as Chile's Recupac and technology partners like Lindner Washtech. FromWaste Management to Material Recupac, the waste manage- ment division of the Coipsa Group, has spent more than 35 years building its role in Chile's circu- lar economy. The company serves approximately 500 customers and manages more than 150,000 tonnes of waste annually. Its latest milestone is its LDPE recycling fa- cility in San Bernardo, with a pro- duction capacity of 500 tonnes per month, where recycled pellets al- ready replace approximately 40% of the virgin resin used in new plastic film production. "At Recupac, we play a well- de ned role within Chile's circular economy by helping our customers become more competitive through integrated waste management fo- cused on maximizing material value with full traceability and a circular approach," explains Macarena Ha- dad, Business Development Deputy Manager at Recupac. According to her, the LDPE project emerged from the realization that simply man- aging this material was no longer enough. "We saw an opportunity to go one step further by transforming it into a new recycled raw material capable of re-entering manufactur- ing processes." The Key to Consistent, High-Quality Recycled Transforming post-consumer plastics-heterogeneous, contamina- ted materials from highly variable sources-into consistently high-qual- ity recycled pellets requires rigorous process control at every stage: from collecting materials directly from customers, through sorting and bal- ing operations, to secondary quality inspection and the recycling line it- self, including shredding, washing, drying and extrusion. "The key is understanding that quality does not depend on a single processing step, but on the entire integrated process . Quality is built step by step through proper pre- sorting, ef cient cleaning, process stability and close control of oper- ating parameters at every stage. Eugenio Bascuñan, Industrial Manager at Recupac (Images Copyright© Lindner Recyclingtech)