Regulations on Packaging and Packaging Waste
Introduction
Glass recycling in Spain was organized based on the European legislation on packaging and packaging waste (1994) and the Spanish Law on packaging and waste of 1997; which led to the creation of an integrated waste management system for single-use glass containers.
Development
The recycling of glass containers began to be legislated in the European Union through European Directive 94/62 relating to packaging and packaging waste.[1] This led to the constitution in Spain of integrated management systems,[2] and the subsequent enactment in Spain of the 1997 Law on packaging and waste.[3].
The integrated management system or collective system of extended producer responsibility (SCRAP) for the selective collection and recycling of waste from single-use glass containers in Spain is managed by the Ecological Society for the Recycling of Glass Containers -Ecovidrio- and is based on the principle of extended producer responsibility. According to the Packaging Law of 1997, manufacturers who market or put containers on the market have the responsibility of managing and financing the recovery of waste generated by this activity.[4].
The Packaging Law of January 1, 1998 meant for municipal administrations the obligation of selective collection and subsequent recycling of these containers.[5] Collaboration between public administrations, the integrated management system and companies is carried out through the authorization of each autonomous community and the signing of a framework agreement.
Citizen collaboration
The operation of the system depends on citizen collaboration; it is the neighbors or merchants who initially separate their waste and place it in the appropriate containers. Glass containers are easily identifiable by their green color and igloo shape, which is why they are informally called "igloos." They do not require civil works for their installation and are emptied regularly. According to the latest available data from 2018, there are 225,019 containers.[6].
With Spain being the second country in the world in tourism revenue and the first in Europe, the hospitality sector is essential for glass recycling since it generates 48% of single-use glass packaging waste. In this case, establishments in the hospitality, catering and restaurant sector use containers with a wider mouth. In historic areas with access difficulties there are door-to-door collection services.[7].