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PS 909

Para enmendar el Artículo 1; añadir el Artículo 1-A; enmendar los Artículos 2, 3, 4 y 5; añadir el Artículo 5-A; enmendar los Artículos 6 y 9; añadir el Artículo 9-A; y enmendar los Artículos 10 y 15 de la Ley Núm. 125 de 27 de junio de 1966, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley de Depósitos de Chatarra”, a fin de ampliar el marco regulatorio para incluir la compra, venta, almacenamiento y manejo de chatarra por parte de personas particulares que operen como colectores, con el propósito de combatir la competencia desleal entre ciudadanos y empresas, de modo que todos los actores del mercado operen bajo los mismos estándares de legalidad y responsabilidad social.

2025-2028 Session

Expands scrap metal regulations to include independent collectors, requiring uniform compliance standards to prevent unfair competition and ensure social responsibility across all market participants in Puerto Rico.

Referido a Comisión(es)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · PS 909

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 909 amends Puerto Rico's 1966 Scrap Metal Law (Ley de Depósitos de Chatarra) to expand regulatory oversight to include individual collectors who buy, sell, store, and handle scrap metal. The legislation aims to establish uniform legal standards and social responsibility requirements across all market participants, from large operators to independent collectors.

Why is this important

This reform directly affects informal scrap metal collectors—often individuals supplementing income through metal collection—by subjecting them to the same regulatory framework as established businesses. The change could impact access to this income source for economically vulnerable populations while potentially increasing compliance costs, but may also protect legitimate businesses from unfair competition and environmental/safety violations by unregulated collectors.

Potential points of contention

  • Burden on informal workers: Individual collectors operating informally may face new licensing, documentation, and compliance costs that could price them out of the market or push them further into the underground economy
  • Enforcement capacity: Whether Puerto Rico's regulatory agencies have sufficient resources to monitor and enforce standards on thousands of individual collectors across the island
  • Environmental and safety trade-offs: Unclear whether formalization actually improves environmental protection and worker safety, or simply redistributes market share from informal to formal operators

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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