2009 National Sustainable Development Strategy.
In 2014, the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry introduced the Environmental Conservation Rules, outlining the roles of the government, industries, and the public in waste management. The national government oversees policy making and monitoring, while township governments are tasked with the waste collection and disposal. Industries which generate hazardous waste are mandated to establish waste treatment facilities, and the public is prohibited from disposing of hazardous waste outside designated areas.
In an effort to address waste management in a holistic and integrated manner, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) developed the National Waste Management Strategy and Master Plan for Myanmar (2018-2030) in 2018. The strategy marks the country’s first step towards introducing EPR as a means to reduce and sustainably manage waste, alongside providing a sustainable financing mechanism for waste management initiatives. However, despite these advancements, as of 2023, Myanmar has yet to devise a concrete plan to incorporate a national EPR system into its legal framework.
Table 1. Summary of policies and regulations related to EPR for packaging in Myanmar.
Policies and Regulations | Promulgation Date | Status |
Environment Policy | 1994 | In force |
Environmental Conservation Law | 2012 | In force |
Environment Conservation Rules | 2014 | In force |
National Waste Management Strategy and Master Plan for Myanmar (2018-2030) | 2018 | In force |
In recent years, Myanmar has engaged in been discussions regarding the development of an EPR, with two distinct streams emerging:
Government-led Initiatives within the National Plastic Action Plan
Myanmar is currently in the process of developing its National Plastic Action Plan with technical assistance from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) (MoEFCC, 2023). This plan includes the integration of an EPR system, with ongoing consultations involving industry stakeholders to shape its implementation.
Private Sector-led Initiatives by Multinational Companies
In 2018, a number of multinational companies, encompassing Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nestle (which exited Myanmar in 2023), Tetra Pak, and Loi Hein, initiated the discussions to establish a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) to oversee waste management in Myanmar. However, due to political events and challenging negotiations among the brands regarding the PRO setup, the formation of the PRO has been put on hold.
2009 National Sustainable Development Strategy.
In 2014, the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry introduced the Environmental Conservation Rules, outlining the roles of the government, industries, and the public in waste management. The national government oversees policy making and monitoring, while township governments are tasked with the waste collection and disposal. Industries which generate hazardous waste are mandated to establish waste treatment facilities, and the public is prohibited from disposing of hazardous waste outside designated areas.
In an effort to address waste management in a holistic and integrated manner, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) developed the National Waste Management Strategy and Master Plan for Myanmar (2018-2030) in 2018. The strategy marks the country’s first step towards introducing EPR as a means to reduce and sustainably manage waste, alongside providing a sustainable financing mechanism for waste management initiatives. However, despite these advancements, as of 2023, Myanmar has yet to devise a concrete plan to incorporate a national EPR system into its legal framework.
Table 1. Summary of policies and regulations related to EPR for packaging in Myanmar.
Policies and Regulations | Promulgation Date | Status |
Environment Policy | 1994 | In force |
Environmental Conservation Law | 2012 | In force |
Environment Conservation Rules | 2014 | In force |
National Waste Management Strategy and Master Plan for Myanmar (2018-2030) | 2018 | In force |
In recent years, Myanmar has engaged in been discussions regarding the development of an EPR, with two distinct streams emerging:
Government-led Initiatives within the National Plastic Action Plan
Myanmar is currently in the process of developing its National Plastic Action Plan with technical assistance from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) (MoEFCC, 2023). This plan includes the integration of an EPR system, with ongoing consultations involving industry stakeholders to shape its implementation.
Private Sector-led Initiatives by Multinational Companies
In 2018, a number of multinational companies, encompassing Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nestle (which exited Myanmar in 2023), Tetra Pak, and Loi Hein, initiated the discussions to establish a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) to oversee waste management in Myanmar. However, due to political events and challenging negotiations among the brands regarding the PRO setup, the formation of the PRO has been put on hold.
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