Page 42 - Plastics News May 2018

internAtionAL news

China's environment watchdog U.K. businesses sign plastic pact

targets waste as pollution battle ore than 40 British companies including major
escalates Mretailers and soft drinks companies in London have

pledged to eliminate unneccessary plastic packaging as
hina plans to carry out nationwide inspections part of an anti-pollution push. The 42 firms, responsible
Ctargeting the illegal transfer and dumping of waste for 80% of plastic packaging sold in Britain, have signed
that damages water resources and soil, the environmental up to a pact that aims to tackle plastic pollution over
watchdog has said as Beijing the next seven years through a series of measures. These
launches a new front in its years- include cutting down on single-use plastic packaging,
making all plastic packaging reusable or recyclable and
long war on pollution.News of the stipulating that 30% of all plastic packaging include
crackdown came as mayors for recycled material. Corporate giants such as Coca-Cola,
seven cities were summoned to a Asda, Procter & Gamble and Marks & Spencer have all
meeting at the Ministry of Ecology signed up the “U.K. Plastics Pact” amid growing concern
and Environment (MEE) in Beijing over the problem of plastic pollution, particularly in the
to account for their cities’ failure oceans. “This requires a whole-scale transformation
to tackle the problem following of the plastics system and can only be achieved by
recent inspections.The ministry ordered them to submit bringing together all links in the chain under a shared
plans within a month to improve their systems for commitment to act,” said Marcus Gover, head of the
disposing of spent chemicals, oil, medical, animal and sustainability campaign group WRAP, which is leading
other waste, and to step up scrutiny of companies that the project. “That is what makes the U.K. Plastics Pact
spew toxic refuse. unique. It unites every body, business and organisation
with a will to act on plastic pollution. We will never
“Local authorities have been focused only on air pollution have a better time to act, and together we can.” The
and water pollution and have not paid attention to waste group hopes that the pact will spread globally.AFP.
disposal,” Zhou Zhiqiang, a senior official with the MEE,
said at the briefing.The illegal disposal and storage of
dangerous waste has become a widespread issue among Idyllic Italian islands ban plastic
chemical producers with reported cases more than cups, plates and utensils
doubling between 2015 and 2018, the ministry said.
Plans for sweeping checks mark a shift in focus for the tarting May 1, 2018, plastic plates, cups, forks and
environmental watchdog as it expands its reach beyond Sother picnic ware are illegal on the Isole Tremiti, a chain
curbing emissions from heavy industrial sectors.It also of islands off Italy's eastern coast. The move comes after
comes after state media reported a firm in Lianyungang, scientists measured alarming levels of plastic particles
a major chemical and refining hub in the eastern province in the waters surrounding the archipelago, which lies
of Jiangsu, was illegally dumping its waste water.At least within a protected marine reserve off the coast of Puglia
six listed companies have since halted operations due to "Day after day we're seeing humans kill our sea and we
a crackdown following the report. had to do something, immediately," the mayor of the
islands, Antonio Fentini, said. His solution is to impose
In prepared remarks at the briefing, the city’s mayor, fines of between €50 and €500 on anyone – businesses or
Fang Wei, said authorities had already shut two chemical individuals – caught using plastic cups, plates or utensils
industrial parks, affecting 200 firms, until they comply on any of the archipelago's three islands. Instead, people
with regulations.“We have been repeating the cycle are encouraged to switch to reusable or biodegradable
of inspection-rectification-punishment . It’s time to picnicware Plastic bottles are not banned – yet, according
solve the problem for good,” said Fang, facing a dozen to Fentini, who would like to see them replaced with
environmental officials in a meeting hall at the ministry. glass. He also hopes to outlaw polystyrene containers,
This is the second time he has been called to the MEE which fishermen commonly use to transport their catch
since becoming mayor in late February. and which often end up in the sea.

Plastics News May 2018 42