Page 32 - Plastics News March 2021

internAtionAL news

Ban on sale of single-use plastic The Mississippi River Plastic

becomes effective in South Pollution Initiative launched
Australia

ayo r s S cientis ts and
outh Australia’s ban on sales, supply or distribution MCommunities along the
Sof single-use plastic products such as drinking straws, Mississippi river had come together
stirrers and cutlery has become effective. This ban, to tackle Plastic Pollution for the
considered to be the first of its kind across Australia, Mississippi River Plastic Pollution
comes after legislation was passed in the Parliament Initiative that was launched
of South Australia last year. South Australia Minister for recently at the Mississippi River
Environment and Water David Speirs said: “By being a Cities and Towns Initiative’s ninth
first mover nationally, we’ve already seen businesses annual Capitol Meeting, where
who manufacture reusable and compostable alternatives mayors representing over 100
start to set up in South Australia, which means our communities along the river
single-use plastic ban will have significant economic corridor are convening to address critical issues
benefits and create local jobs, as well as being good for that impact the nation’s most important waterway,
the environment.” The South Australian Government has including plastic pollution. This initiative will begin
said that the ban will extend beyond straws, cutlery and with data collection in three pilot locations along the
stirrers, with expanded polystyrene cups, bowls, plates and length of the river: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; St. Louis,
clamshell containers and oxo-degradable plastic products Missouri; and St. Paul, Minnesota. The data, which will
to be banned in a year’s time.The state plans to consider be collected throughout April 2021, will be generated
more products such as takeaway coffee cups, plastic through a ‘citizen science’ approach, enlisting the
carrier bags and other takeaway foodservice products as participation of thousands of community volunteers.
Marine debris that continuously enters the Mississippi
River poses a large threat to environmental quality and
ecosystem health. As the drainage system for 40% of the
continental United States, plastic waste and other litter
travels through storm drains and smaller waterways into
the river and its tributaries, ultimately making way to
the Gulf of Mexico and into the ocean. Approximately
market demand grows and other sustainable alternatives 8 million metric tons of plastic enters the oceans each
become available. Spiers said: “We are protecting our year, with rivers contributing to a significant portion
environment for future generations by reducing marine of that amount. The Mississippi River Plastic Pollution
and other litter, and promoting the circular economy with Initiative will generate a first-ever snapshot of plastic
a shift away from a single-use, throwaway mindset.“Our pollution along the river. “We enthusiastically applaud
legislation has been developed with the help of our the Mayors from along the Mississippi River for tackling
Single-Use Plastics Taskforce which has representation the critical challenge of plastic pollution in our rivers
from 15 different organisations, including people living and marine environments,” said Barbara Hendrie,
with disabilities.” The legislation, however, does not stop Director of UN Environment Programme’s North America
members of the community from bringing their own straws Office. “With just 9% of all plastic being recycled
to cafés. In addition, firms can opt to supply individual globally, we have to work together to address the way
single-use plastic drinking straws on request, because of we produce, use and dispose of single-use plastic.” The
disability or medical needs. Businesses, including local Mississippi River is the drainage system for 40% of the
government offices, pharmacies, charities and medical, United States all or part 31 US States and 2 Canadian
dental and care facilities, can sell and supply packs of Provinces. Plastic waste and other litter travel through
straws due to disability or medical requirements. storm drains, tributaries, and rivers into the Mississippi
River, making its way into the ocean.

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