Comprehensive analysis of plastic regulations in Ecuador: Evaluating the path to a circular economy

The transition towards a circular economy to address plastic pollution is more critical than ever. In low-middle income countries (LMICs), like Ecuador, this challenge is intensified by inadequate waste management infrastructure and recycling facilities. High rates of informal waste disposal, including incineration and dumping in waterbodies or open land, are common, largely due to the absence of comprehensive municipal waste collection systems. Within this context, the aim of this research is to evaluate how Ecuador is moving towards a circular economy to reduce plastic pollution. This involves a comprehensive analysis of relevant policies, focusing on the nature of the discourse, the experiences of frontline stakeholders involved in implementation, and identifying key barriers. The findings highlight that a diverse range of stakeholders, including national and local governments, the private sector, and civil society, have undertaken initiatives to regulate plastic usage and implement related policies. However, despite the existence of regulations and initiatives, a critical gap between national and local regulations coupled with a lack of technical guidelines for implementation raises concern. Challenges to the effectiveness of these instruments and initiatives for plastic management in the country were identified with the regulatory barriers emerging as the most prevalent. At the same time, the existing regulatory documents follow a mainly reformist discourse pointing towards a general optimist approach that would also like to holistically address social issues in alignment with technology development to aid the transition. Reinforcing national policies, fostering robust local directives, establishing clear and trackable objectives within each regulation, and forging cross-sector alliances are among the key proposed strategies to overcome those challenges. A comprehensive roadmap for sustainable plastic management is essential, incorporating gender considerations for inclusivity and actively involving waste pickers. These approaches provide a solid foundation for informing future strategies and policy development in the country.