Categoria: MEDIA

Cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws and stirrers made with plastics, food containers and cups for beverages such as those made from expanded polystyrene, and plastic bottles are some of the 10 most found plastic waste items on Europe’s beaches. Those 10 items account for 43% of total marine litter.

In May 2018, the European Commission proposed new laws to tackle this huge problem and also fishing gear, which represents an additional 27% of all marine litter. The new Single Use Plastics Directive will be an integral part of Plastics Strategy and an important element of the Circular Economy Action Plan.

The Commission’s proposal foresees several measures for extended producer responsibility. Member States are advised to establish schemes for nine types of single-use plastic products, namely food containers, cups for beverages, Balloons, packets and wrappers, beverage containers and their caps and lids, tobacco product filters, wet wipes (sanitary items), lightweight plastic carrier bags and fishing gear.

This means that producers of these products shall cover the costs of the collection of waste and its subsequent transport and treatment, including the costs to clean up litter and the costs of the awareness raising measures.

In the specific case of producers of fishing gear containing plastic, Member States should ensure that they cover the costs of the collection of waste fishing gear that has been delivered to adequate port reception facilities and its subsequent transport and treatment.