Page 39 - Plastics News February 2021

internAtionAL news

Nine States in US to collaborate Sri Lanka announces ban on

for EPR single-use sachet packets

egislators in nine he Government of Sri
Lstates spanning the TLanka has announced
U.S. will collaborate to its decision to ban the
push extended producer use of single-use sachet
responsibility policies for packets from 31 March.
plastic packaging. They The Government of Sri
said their joint actions will Lanka has announced its
carry more weight than a decision to ban the use of
single legislative effort. single-use sachet packets
The National Caucus of from 31 March. In a gazette
Environmental Legislators notification, the country’s
this week announced the Ministry of Environment revealed the decision to
effort, which involves bar the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or
lawmakers in California, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials for agrochemicals
Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, packaging. The notification has been issued by
Oregon, Vermont and Washington state. Each lawmaker has Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera pursuant
already introduced or plans to introduce plastic packaging to Section 23W (1) (a) of the National Environmental
extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation in their Act, No 47 of 1980. Accordingly, with effect from March
states. EPR shifts the costs associated with recycling 31st, 2021, the use of Polyethylene terephthalate
products onto the producers. EPR bills have appeared in (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material for packing
a handful of state legislatures in recent years, but this agrochemicals used for any process, trade or industry
appears to be the first coordinated effort by lawmakers is prohibited. In addition, the ban applies to any plastic
around the country to advocate for such policies. “States item specified for any process, trade or industry:- (i)
know they are more powerful when acting together,” the Sachets having less than or equal to a net volume of
caucus said in a release. “These legislators are moving 20ml/ net weight of 20g (except for packing food
the conversation forward around how to combat plastic and medicines), Inflatable toys (except balloons,
pollution and move towards a circular economy and zero- balls, water floating/pool toys and water sports
waste through a united effort.” The NCEL lawmakers gear). Cotton buds with plastic stems (except plastic
also formed what they are calling an “EPR for Packaging cotton buds used for medical/clinical treatment).
Network.” Through this group, they will exchange policy Meanwhile, Gazette Notification No. 2211/50 dated
ideas, discuss strategies and share lessons from each 21st January 2021 has made it mandatory to state
state’s experience. The state-level collaboration comes the type of plastic used for any plastic product. It
during wider attention on policies to address plastic has also introduced an internationally used coding
waste, particularly EPR. Last year, members of Congress system to identify each type of plastic, with the aim of
introduced a bill that included an EPR component for minimizing environmental pollution by facilitating the
packaging materials. Although that bill has not advanced,
its authors last summer encouraged state lawmakers to recycling of plastics. “Plastic Item” means a product
take components of the bill and push for them at a local manufactured using polyethylene, terephthalate,
and regional level, similar to the efforts of the NCEL high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene,
group. During a virtual meeting announcing the new polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, any
effort this week, California State Sen. Henry Stern, a Los other similar raw material or any mixture thereof. Sri
Angeles-area Democrat, framed the collaboration as part lanka will start an education and awareness campaign
of a trend that extends outside the realm of recycling to help residents and businesses with the transition.
policy.“What you’re going to see, I think, beyond EPR, is In September, Sri Lanka’s Environment Ministry was
a broader movement of interstate coalitions that aren’t reportedly set to take a final decision on banning
simply waiting on Congress to act,” he said. ‘quarter’ arrack bottles.

39 Februar y 2021 Plastics News