The European Union (EU) Parliament has recently made a noteworthy move against plastic waste impacting our oceans and beaches. The Parliament voted in favour of prohibiting single-use plastic items, including straws, stirrers, cotton buds and cutlery. This broad-reaching law now waits for final formalities before being added to the EU rulebook.
Implementation and Impact
Once published, EU member states will have a two-year period to apply this directive locally. Essentially, we can anticipate this ban becoming enforceable by 2021 across all EU nations. Even the United Kingdom will need to adhere to these regulations if it continues its Brexit transition period engagement.
Targeting Top Single-Use Plastic Products
This legislative move is specially focused on the top ten disposable plastic products. These include food and beverage containers made from expanded polystyrene, plates, balloon sticks and all items fashioned from oxo-degradable plastic. By 2025, the law requires that plastic bottles must contain at least 25% recycled content. This proportion must rise to 90% by 2029.
Producer Responsibility Principle
Significantly, tobacco companies will bear the cost of public collections for cigarette stubs, which rank as the second most discarded single-use plastic item. The ban works alongside wider EU initiatives for reducing the use of plastic packaging and stricter labelling rules
Understanding Single-Use Plastics
Single-use plastics, also called disposable plastics, serve their purpose once before being discarded or recycled. This category includes plastic bags, soda and water bottles, coffee stirrers, straws and most food packaging.
One-time Use Plastic Products and Health
Disposable plastics play a key role in preventing infection spread, with items such as applicators, syringes, drug tests, wraps and bandages often designed to be single-use. These products also combat food waste by keeping food and water fresh longer, minimizing the risk of contamination.
Challenges in Disposal
While useful, disposing of single-use products can present difficulties. The petroleum-based plastic used in their production isn’t biodegradable and usually ends up buried in a landfill or polluting our oceans. When breaking down, these materials release toxic chemicals, potentially contaminating food and water supplies. The ultimate goal is to collect all these items and recycle them or convert them into energy.
Why EU Took This Step: Some Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| EU’s recycling rate | EU recycles only 25% of its yearly plastic waste production of 25 million tonnes |
| Marine litter concern | 85% of marine litter is plastic; story of dead whales with stomachs full of plastic gained attention |
| China’s Waste Policy | China’s cessation of waste processing pushed EU for drastic moves on the issue |
The European Parliament
As the sole parliamentary institution in the European Union elected directly by EU citizens, the European Parliament has significant authority. EU citizens of at least 18 years of age vote for the Parliament’s 751 members every five years. These members represent the Union’s 28 states.
Forward Steps
This new legislation represents a positive stride, especially given that environmental concerns often fall behind economic growth priorities worldwide. However, without robust waste management infrastructure and comprehensive recycling facilities, achieving a circular economy or meeting the objectives of this directive becomes challenging.
