Page 48 - Plastics News June 2019

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Italian island of Capri bans single- Japan unveils policy to curb

use plastics plastic waste before G20

talian island of Capri has banned the single-use apan has announced a
Iplastics. The new ruling states that no more single- Jpolicy to reduce marine
use plastics are allowed on the island, unless they're plastic waste, part of efforts
made of biodegradable plastic. They can neither be to raise the issue at the
sold by local shopkeepers, nor brought onto the island G20 summit it will host this
by visitors. It is part of a broader effort to combat month. Japan is hoping to
marine plastic pollution. A recent investigation found cast itself as a leader on the
that the water separating Capri from the mainland had issue, and will reportedly
four times more plastic waste in it than other marine press for an international
areas around Italy. The island, located in the Gulf of agreement to reduce the amount of plastic going into
Naples, is famous for its high-end celebrity visitors and the ocean during the Osaka summit from June 28 to 30.
its dazzlingly blue waters. With shores around the world "Ocean plastic waste is one of the issues topping the
being increasingly plagued by plastic waste like straws G20 summit agenda, and as the chair of the meeting,
and cutlery, it’s not a surprise that the island wants to cut we will exercise leadership to solve the matter," Prime
back on the amount of single-use plastics used by locals Minister Shinzo Abe told a ministerial meeting that
and the million of travellers who come each year. he adopted the policy package. Japan is the second largest
idyllic Italian island will start fining people €500 for using per capita producer of plastic waste in the world after
single-use plastic, including travellers who bring it along the United States, and while it has a comparatively
on their holidays. Nearby destinations will follow Capri’s high recycling rate, it lags behind on efforts to reduce
single-use plastic. Included in the policy is a plan
to require retailers to charge customers for plastic
bags, though it remains unclear when that will come
into effect and whether all retailers will be affected.
Plastic bag charges are already common in many parts
of the world, and the European Union in March passed
legislation banning other single-use plastic including
straws and cutlery from 2021. Japan's policy aims to
recycle 100 percent of newly produced plastics by 2035
and promotes the use of biodegradable alternatives
lead, with plans to pass laws banning single-use plastics to oil-based plastic. The package also includes a plan
on the island of Procida and in the city of Naples. A to support Southeast Asian countries with recycling
single-use plastic ban has been in place since last summer technologies and other infrastructure, the government
in the Tremiti islands, a famous natural beauty spot off said in a statement. Globally, some eight million
the coast of Puglia. Anyone flouting the ban there faces tonnes of plastic waste is estimated end up in the
a €50 fine, and the mayor said repeat offenders would sea each year. From Japan, some 20,000 to 60,000
be charged €500.Italy hasn't gone as far as France, which tonnes of plastic wastes are estimated to flow into
in 2015 passed a nationwide ban on single-use plastic oceans annually, the government said. The Japanese
picnicware, effective from 2020. But campaigners say government is urging an end to single-use plastics at
local authorities can only do so much about Italy's serious businesses in government buildings. The approach is
problem with plastics. China's recent move to ban foreign based on an amended basic policy under the Act on
plastic trash imports has bolstered the plastic recyclers. Promoting Green Purchasing that requires ministries
The plastic ban has been gaining momentum for quite and agencies as well as independent administrative
some time now so much that it’s leading the world in institutions to procure goods and services with less
bag regulation. impact on the environment.

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