Page 26 - Plastics News July 2021

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

&RORUDGR *RYHUQRU VLJQV 3ODVWLF EU introduces ban on certain
Pollution Reduction Act VLQJOH XVH SODVWLF LWHPV

olorado Governor Jared Polis has signed a law that KH (XURSHDQ 8QLRQ (8 KDV LPSOHPHQWHG D EDQ RQ
Caims to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags and Tcertain single-use plastic items as of 3 July. Initially
polystyrene products in the state.The original version of put forward on 31 May, the rules are included in the
the bill would have banned polystyrene boxes by next 6LQJOH 8VH 3ODVWLFV 'LUHFWLYH ZKLFK DLPV WR HOLPLQDWH
-DQXDU\ DQG EDJV E\ QH[W 6HSWHPEHU 7KH ÀQDO DJUHHG ELOO WHQ VLQJOH XVH SODVWLF LWHPV WKDW UHSUHVHQW RI DOO
draft delays the enactment of the law for both materials PDULQH OLWWHU LQ WKH (8 7KHVH SODVWLF LWHPV DUH FRWWRQ
bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, sticks for
party balloons, and food and drink containers made
from expanded polystyrene.The ban also covers all
products made from oxo-degradable plastic.The ban
does not cover medical-related plastic items such as
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and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said
on Twitter: “Today is the day Europe waves goodbye
to single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon
sticks and cotton buds, cups, food and beverage
containers made of expanded polystyrene, and all
to 2024. An amendment has also been added that exempts SURGXFWV PDGH RI R[R GHJUDGDEOH SODVWLF µ 6RPH
local retailers, with three or fewer stores in the state and single-use plastic products will need to be marked
no out-of-state stores, from the ban. This is intended to as such on the packaging or product itself to inform
UHGXFH WKH EDQ·V ÀQDQFLDO EXUGHQ RQ VPDOO EXVLQHVVHV consumers that they contain plastic. This is intended
&RORUDGR KDV EHFRPH WKH WHQWK 86 VWDWH WR EDQ VLQJOH to help reduce the environmental impact of these
use plastic shopping bags in some stores.Retailers who SURGXFWV $V SDUW RI WKLV FRPPLWPHQW WKH (8 KDV VHW
will be affected by the ban must provide recycled paper D VHSDUDWH FROOHFWLRQ WDUJHW IRU SODVWLF ERWWOHV E\
bags, each available for a $0.10 fee, from 1 January 7KLV LV GXH WR EH LQFUHDVHG WR E\ 7KH
2023.The majority of the revenue collected from plastic EORF DLPV WR XVH RI UHF\FOHG SODVWLF LQ SRO\HWK\OHQH
bag fees will be given to local governments.Colorado 3(7 EHYHUDJH ERWWOHV E\ DQG LQ DOO SODVWLF
State Representative Lisa Cutter, the prime sponsor of
the bill in the Colorado House of Representatives, said:
“I’m thrilled to sponsor this landmark legislation.“Plastic
pollution is unsightly, unnecessary and a threat to human
and animal health. It also plays a key role in human-caused
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pre-emption’ law allowing local governments to enact
their own fees and regulations on plastic and packaging
products.The ban covers peanuts, coolers and foodware
and requires businesses not to provide single-use utensils,
cups, lids and condiments unless they are requested beverage bottles from 2030. In March, South Australia
E\ FXVWRPHUV ,Q $SULO :DVKLQJWRQ *RYHUQRU -D\ ,QVOHH banned the sale, supply or distribution of single-use
planned to sign into law a bipartisan bill that aims to ban plastic products such as drinking straws, stirrers and
several types of polystyrene used in food containers and FXWOHU\ 7KH EDQ FRQVLGHUHG WR EH WKH ÀUVW RI LWV NLQG
increase the amount of post-consumer recycled (PCR) across Australia, came after legislation was passed in
content used in packaging. the South Australian Parliament last year.

Plastics News July 2021 26