What Happens to Your Industrial Plastic When Law 36-26 Takes Full Effect

A legal change that affects almost any company generating plastic waste

If your company generates plastic waste—whether on a production line, in logistics, in distribution, or in any industrial process—Law 36-26 will change the way you can handle that material. This is not a regulation that applies only to plastic manufacturers: it applies to those who use and discard it. And in the Dominican Republic, that includes a large portion of the business community.

This law, passed in 2026 with technical and political backing that includes cooperation with the European Union, introduces for the first time a clear legal framework on extended producer responsibility, management of post-industrial and post-consumer plastic waste, and restrictions on single-use materials. What was previously a voluntary decision—what to do with leftover plastic—gradually becomes a legal obligation.

Below we explain what this law means for generating companies, what mistakes to avoid right now, and how to prepare before the penalties take effect.

What Law 36-26 specifically establishes

Law 36-26 has several pillars that directly affect companies that generate plastic waste:

• Extended producer responsibility (EPR): companies that place plastic on the market—whether as a product or as packaging—bear responsibility for the end of life of that material. Handing it over to the garbage truck is not enough.
• Traceability obligation: plastic waste must be traceable from the point of generation to its final disposal. This requires documentation, records, and in many cases contracts with authorized handlers.
• Restrictions on single-use plastics: certain materials are banned or limited, making it necessary to review both the inputs and the packaging the company uses.
• Recycling targets: the law sets minimum recovery and recycling percentages that must be met progressively. These are not abstract sector-wide targets: they translate into requirements for each operator in the supply chain.

The implementation schedule includes adjustment periods, but experience with similar laws in the region shows that companies that wait until the last moment face higher costs and more limited options.

What types of industrial plastic fall within the scope of the law

Not all plastics are treated the same, but the law covers a broad spectrum. Among the materials that generate the highest volumes at Dominican companies and that are subject to regulation are:

• Stretch film and shrink film for packaging (polyethylene)
• Industrial sacks and bags made of polypropylene or polyethylene
• Rigid containers made of HDPE, PET, or PP from production processes
• Plastic strapping used in palletizing
• Trim waste and line offcuts at manufacturing companies
• Caps, preforms, and parts discarded during quality control

If any of these materials leaves your operation without a verifiable destination—that is, without documentation proving it was properly managed—your company may be exposed to regulatory observations.

The most common mistakes companies make before adapting

There are recurring patterns when a new environmental management law comes into force. Knowing them in advance can save you time and money.

Assuming plastic waste is the municipality's problem

Disposal through the municipal collection system does not count as adequate management under EPR. Industrial plastic waste needs a verifiable destination: a registered operator that receives, processes, and documents it. Sending it to a landfill, even legally under the previous framework, no longer meets the requirements this law introduces.

Not separating at the source

The value of plastic as a recyclable raw material depends largely on its purity and how it is sorted. Plastic mixed with other waste—organic matter, paper, metals—loses value or simply cannot be processed. Companies that do not implement source separation end up with material that no recycler can accept, which complicates both legal compliance and any commercial agreements.

Formalizing without documenting

Some companies already work with informal recyclers or scrap buyers who do not issue any kind of receipt. Under the new law, that transaction does not legally exist. If there is no document proving where the material went and who processed it, the waste is considered to have no adequate destination.

Waiting for the legal department to act alone

Compliance with Law 36-26 is not solely a legal matter: it requires real operational changes on the plant floor. The production, logistics, and maintenance teams need to understand which materials must be sorted, how to store them, and what the correct outflow process is. Without that internal coordination, formal compliance is hollow.

Concrete steps your company can take right now

Preparing before the obligations become fully enforceable has clear advantages: more options available, lower adaptation costs, and less operational pressure. These are the most useful steps at this stage:

• Conduct a plastic waste inventory: identify what types of plastic your company generates, in what approximate volumes, and at which points in the process. Without this assessment, it is difficult to make sound decisions.
• Review how that waste currently leaves your facility: who picks it up? Is there a contract? Do they issue any kind of receipt? If the answer to any of these questions is no, that is the first thing to correct.
• Identify registered operators: the law requires that the handler receiving the material be authorized. Working with a formal recycler not only satisfies the regulation—it also protects the company in the event of any audit.
• Implement source separation: designate separate collection points by plastic type within the facility. This increases the value of the material and simplifies the pickup logistics.
• Establish records: keep a log of the volumes delivered, the dates, and the recipients. This track record is what demonstrates compliance to the environmental authority.

What happens to the economic value of that plastic

An advantage that is not always recognized: well-sorted industrial plastic has value as a secondary raw material. It is not simply waste that costs money to handle; it is a material that can generate an economic return when delivered to an operator that processes it for reintroduction into the production chain.

The value varies depending on the type of plastic, its purity, the volume, and market conditions. Technical plastics, clean polypropylenes, and high-density polyethylene typically command better prices than contaminated or mixed plastic. Source separation, once again, is the factor that most determines whether that material generates income or a cost.

This also changes the internal conversation within companies: instead of treating leftover plastic as a disposal problem, it can be managed as a by-product with value, which makes it easier to allocate resources for implementing separation.

How Scrapmen Recycling Group can help you

Scrapmen Recycling Group purchases, processes, and recovers value from post-industrial and post-consumer plastic waste in the Dominican Republic to reintroduce it as raw material into the production chain. If your company generates industrial plastic and needs a formal, documented destination aligned with what Law 36-26 requires, we can be that operator.

We work with generating companies across different sectors and volume levels, we receive the material, issue the corresponding receipts, and handle the processing. If you want to know whether the plastic your operation generates can be managed with us, contact us for an initial assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Does Law 36-26 apply to small companies or only to large generators?

The law does not distinguish by company size in its general principles: extended producer responsibility applies to anyone who places plastic on the market or generates it as waste from their process. Compliance mechanisms may be more complex for large generators, but the obligations for adequate management and traceability do not include an explicit exemption based on size. The most prudent course of action is to consult an environmental specialist about how the regulation applies to your specific situation.

What documentation does my company need to prove it is properly managing its plastic waste?

In general, you must be able to demonstrate that the waste was delivered to an authorized operator. This means formal contracts or agreements with the handler, delivery records showing the date, type of material, and volume, and receipts issued by the party receiving it. The exact format may vary depending on the regulations developed under the law, but the principle is the same: the waste needs a documentary trail from the moment it leaves your facility.

What happens if my company does not adapt before the law becomes fully enforceable?

Environmental management laws typically include a sanctioning regime ranging from warnings and fines to suspension of operations in the most serious cases. Beyond penalties, companies that do not have their waste management in order also face difficulties when international clients, supply chain auditors, or financial institutions request evidence of adequate environmental practices. Adapting early reduces both types of risk.