Page 34 - Plastics News February 2019

internAtionAL news

Japan to ban plastic straws and cutlery in government cafeterias

he government decided earlier this month to working with industry toward making all plastics recyclable
Tban in principle the use of plastic straws and by 2030 and to significantly reducing the unnecessary use
cutlery in its cafeterias and to stop passing out plastic of single-use plastics.
bottles to conference attendees — its latest policy on
environmentally friendly procurement. In an effort to New York's plan to expand a
catch up with the global trend, the Environment Ministry
has drafted a strategy to cut disposable plastic waste bottle deposit program
by 25 percent by 2030 and to oblige Japanese shops to
charge for plastic bags. The strategy is expected to be ew York is looking to
officially endorsed by March, but some critics have called Nexpand its nickel-
into question its effectiveness, saying it lacks concrete deposit law to include
measures to curb plastic waste. The policy will be applied plastic and glass bottles
to all central government institutions, including ministries, containing juice, coffee
courts and regional bureaus, when they start signing new and tea concoctions, plus
procurement agreements sports and energy drinks.
from April. The move Single-use plastic bags
comes as Japan seeks would be banned in New
to showcase its efforts York under a new proposal
to reduce plastic waste from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.Cuomo said in his proposed
ahead of the Group of 20 2019 budget, released today, he will introduce
summit in Osaka in June.
legislation banning the bags and also expanding the
Under the revised Basic state’s beverage container deposit. “The ban will
Policy on Promoting Green help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated
Procurement, shops in with bag production and disposal, from petroleum
government buildings will used to produce the bags and emissions from the
only be permitted to give customers bags made with transportation of bags to landfills,” the governor’s
a certain amount of natural materials. Plastic cutlery, budget proposal said. Cuomo said the state will make
however, will only be given to customers if requested. Shop sure the law doesn’t hurt people with low incomes.
operators will also be asked to offer economic incentives Plastic bags are a growing environmental problem.
to encourage customers not to use plastic bags.During They do not break down, can kill wildlife, and cost
conferences, including those that are outsourced, the use millions to dispose of. The New York City Department
of plastic bottles and disposable cups will be forbidden. If of Sanitation estimates it spends $12.5 million a year
meals are offered, the use of disposable plastic containers to handle about 73,000 tons of plastic bags. The ban
will be limited as much as possible. Japan is lagging behind was one of several recommendations made last year
other countries in curbing the use of plastics despite by the state Plastic Bag Task Force. The task force was
growing fears of environmental pollution. While China was created in March 2017, shortly after the state shot down
the largest worldwide generator of plastic packaging waste an attempt by New York City to impose a 5-cent fee
in 2015, Japan was responsible for the largest amount per per bag.The governor is also proposing to expand the
capita after the United States, according to data from the 5-cent bottle deposit to sports drinks, energy drinks,
U.N. Environment Program. Packaging waste accounts for fruit and vegetable beverages, ready-to-drink tea and
around half of the plastic waste generated globally. Japan coffee and wellness beverages. Exceptions would be
and the United States have faced criticism for not signing made for containers of milk and milk substitutes, infant
the Ocean Plastics Charter, aimed at reducing the use of formula, syrups and flavorings, medical prescriptions
disposable plastic, at the Group of Seven summit in Canada and dietary supplements, the budget said. A redemption
in June last year. The charter commits governments to
reward would ensure more of the materials are reused.

Plastics News Februar y 2019 34