From this Thursday, January 1, 2026, the use of plastic bags and containers will be prohibited in San Miguel de Tucumán.
This was defined by Ordinance No. 5361, which regulated the prohibition of the use of “second-grade” containers made with polyethylene or polypropylene.
This will apply to supermarkets, shopping malls, and businesses throughout the city and responds to a rule sanctioned in July 2024.
The aim of the measure is to reduce the environmental impact generated by plastic bags and wrappers used to transport goods in Tucumán.
It should be noted that the prohibition applies only to second-grade plastic products, not to primary ones that come from the factory in direct contact with the product.
Sustainable alternatives and permitted materials after the prohibition of plastics in Tucumán
The regulation defines which materials can replace the prohibited plastic bags in Tucumán.
Among the authorized options are:
- Certified compostable or biodegradable containers
- Reusable bags made of non-plastic textiles such as friselina
- Containers with at least 50% post-consumer recycled material
- Products made of paper or cardboard from sustainable sources
All containers must comply with technical standards such as IRAM, EN 13432, ASTM, or ISO 17088.
Additionally, the use of oxo-degradable additives is prohibited, unless certified to guarantee degradation without generating microplastics.
The Subsecretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development of San Miguel de Tucumán, Julieta Migliavacca, provided details of the measure to eliminate the use of plastics in Tucumán
The official explained that this seeks “to avoid apparent solutions that do not solve the underlying problem“.
“It’s not just about changing one bag for another that seems more friendly, but about ensuring that it really does not generate a negative environmental impact in the long term,” she stated.
The control and enforcement of the regulation
The city’s Secretariat of Environment will act as the enforcement authority and will carry out inspections in businesses and supplier companies.
For this purpose, the Municipal Registry of Manufacturers, Importers, and Suppliers of Sustainable Containers was created, where those who market these products must register.
Now, the authorized containers must visibly display the type of material, its environmental condition (reusable, recyclable, or compostable), the certified technical standard, and the manufacturer’s identification.
According to Migliavacca, this aims to eliminate the presence of certain risky additives: “There are bags that incorporate additives that facilitate their degradation, but that process generates microplastics, which is precisely what we want to avoid”.
And she added: “It is proven that microplastics are already present in the lungs, in the blood, in animals, and in ecosystems“.
The gradual implementation and exceptions
From this Thursday, January 1, the municipality will carry out an initial stage of information and support.
“The idea is not to start sanctioning right away, but to explain, support, and give time for businesses to adapt,” Migliavacca stated.
Therefore, the regulation includes temporary exceptional authorizations for businesses that demonstrate technical or economic impossibility to immediately replace the materials.
These exceptions may include progressive adaptation schedules by sector.
In case of non-compliance, fines, aggravating factors for recurrence, and even closures will be applied, depending on the severity of the infraction and the volume of containers involved.
Migliavacca emphasized that the success of the measure depends on the change of habits. “Merchants have to stop automatically giving out the bag and neighbors have to incorporate the habit of bringing their own,” she insisted.
To assist, instead of plastic ones, the municipality of Tucumán will distribute reusable bags made of fabric and friselina starting from January first.
This will be done through eco-exchanges, to facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable city.
