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Chile Registro de Emisiones y Transferencias de Contaminantes

Chile Registro de Emisiones y Transferencias de Contaminantes: Chile’s RETC Regulation (DS 1/2013 MMA) mandates pollutant emissions and waste transfer reporting through a national PRTR

Maílis Carrilho
Written by Maílis Carrilho
Updated on February 12th, 2026

Summary

DS 1/2013 approves the regulation of Chile’s Registro de Emisiones y Transferencias de Contaminantes (RETC), a public register designed to capture, systematise, and disseminate information on emissions, wast,e and pollutant transfers. For companies, RETC is a core compliance reporting channel: it standardises reporting duties, supports inspection and enforcement, and directly affects the credibility of environmental reporting because the data is publicly accessible and cross-checked.

Details

Jurisdictions
  • Chile
Mandatory for

For covered sources/activities and waste handlers as defined in applicable regulations and sector rules linked to RETC.

Deep dive

2 min read
Published Feb 12, 2026

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What’s Required

1) Periodic reporting of emissions and waste-related information for covered establishments
The RETC regulation organises the reporting of environmental information associated with air emissions and hazardous and non-hazardous waste generation and transfers. Companies within scope must submit accurate, timely declarations using the specified systems and formats.

2) Data quality and traceability controls
Because RETC data is used for indicators and policy decisions and is publicly disclosed, errors are high-risk. Firms should maintain:

  • source measurements (CEMS where applicable), stack testing reports, and calculation workbooks.

  • waste manifests and transfer certificates.

  • QA/QC logs and approvals.

3) Multi-regulator integration
RETC functions as an integration point for sectoral environmental reporting. Businesses should map all reporting flows that land in RETC to avoid duplicate or inconsistent submissions.

Important Deadlines

  • Date of adoption/publication: regulation published as DS 1/2013 (BCN record).

  • Annual cadence: specific due dates depend on the system’s annual reporting calendar and sectoral obligations referenced by RETC.

Current Status

In force, with ongoing administration and normative updates referenced by the RETC portal.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

  • administrative sanctions under environmental enforcement (including SMA) for failure to report, late reporting, or false/inaccurate reporting.

  • enforcement escalation if reported values indicate potential exceedances or non-compliance with permits.

Examples of Known Violations

  • underreporting due to incorrect emission factors or missing activity data.

  • inconsistent waste quantities between manifests, invoices, and RETC declarations.

  • late submissions are causing enforcement flags.

  • failure to retain evidence supporting submitted figures.

Resources


Maílis Carrilho
Added by:
Maílis Carrilho
Sustainability Research Analyst
Maílis Carrilho is a Sustainability Research Analyst (Intern) at Net Zero Compare, contributing research and analysis on climate tech, carbon policies, and sustainable solutions. She supports the team in developing fact-based content and insights to help companies and readers navigate the evolving sustainability landscape.
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Added on Feb 12, 2026 by Maílis Carrilho ·