Disposable plastic banned from 2021. Even the last obstacle has been overcome. Today the definitive go-ahead has arrived: the Council of Europe has in fact adopted the directive that from 2021 will ban the marketing of disposable plastic products including plates, cutlery, straws, balloon poles and cotton buds.
Disposable plastic banned from 2021. Even the last obstacle has been overcome. Today the definitive go-ahead has arrived: the Council of Europe has in fact adopted the directive that from 2021 will ban the marketing of disposable plastic products including plates, cutlery, straws, balloon poles and cotton buds.
Well, but not very well, on the other hand the times of politics are not those of the environment. While the European ban on disposable plastics is certainly good news, it will take another two years before such products can be banned and no longer sold.
In the meantime, especially if not properly differentiated, they will continue to increase marine pollution with dangerous consequences for animals and also for the food chain, in the form of microplastics.
The long path of the directive against single-use plastics
The formal adoption of the new rules by the Council concludes thelast legislative phase. A journey that began in May 2018, with the proposal presented by the European Commission. On October 31 of the same year, the Council He has reached your position.
A few days later, negotiations with the European Parliament started and ended on 19 December 2018 with a provisional agreement, confirmed on 18 January 2019 by the ambassadors of the Member States to the EU.
What changes from 2021
The Single-Use Plastics Directive builds on existing EU waste legislation, but sets stricter rules for products and packaging that fall under the top ten litter found most often on European beaches. The new rules will therefore prohibit the use of some products in disposable plastic for which alternatives already exist.
“One of the main objectives of the directive is to reduce the amount of plastic waste we create. Under the new rules, single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon poles and cotton buds will be banned by 2021. Member States have agreed to reach a plastic bottle collection target of 90% by 2029. 25; in addition, plastic bottles must have a recycled content of at least 2025% by 30 and at least 2030% by XNUMX " it is read in the official press release issued by the Council.
Here is the list of products banned in Europe from 2021
- Plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks)
- Plastic dishes
- Plastic straws
- Food containers in expanded polystyrene with or without lid, used to contain food intended for immediate consumption or to take away
- Expanded polystyrene beverage containers
- Expanded polystyrene beverage cups
- Oxo-degradable plastic products (materials that contain additives that promote the oxidation of plastic into micro-fragments under aerobic conditions. This type of plastic contributes to microplastic pollution, is not compostable and negatively affects the recycling of conventional plastic).
- Plastic cotton buds
In the meantime, as it will take another two years to go into effect, however, we can avoid buying disposable plastic dishes and objects, preferring biodegradable alternatives.
To read the Directive on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment click here
READ also:
- It's definitive: Europe confirms the ban on disposable plastics by 2021
- Disposable tableware: is the European ban really the solution to marine pollution?
Francesca Mancuso
