Page 50 - Plastics News November 2018

internAtionAL news

European parliament approves Australians mistakenly throwing

sweeping ban on single-use plastics soft plastics into recycling bins

he European parliament has overwhelmingly backed hrowing soft plastics into the recycling bin is
Ta wide-ranging ban on single-use plastics in an effort Tstill the most common recycling mistake made
to tackle pollution in seas, fields and waterways. Under by Australians, according to new research by Planet
the proposed directive, items such as plastic straws, Ark.A survey of 180 councils commissioned by the
cotton swabs, disposable plastic plates and cutlery would environment organisation for Recycling Week asked
be banned by 2021, and 90% of plastic bottle recycled councils to identify what were the most common
by 2025. Described recycling mistakes made by their residents. Forty-six
per cent of councils said the number one issue was that
by the European too many people were still putting soft plastics, which
co mmis s io n as are not recyclable, into their recycling bins. This was
a clampdown on followed closely by residents making the mistake of
“the top 10 plastic putting their recyclable waste into plastic bags before
products that most disposing of them, with 41% of councils saying this
often end up in was a problem. Soft plastics, such as wrappers, cling
the ocean”, the wrap and bags, clog up sorting machines. Most can be
proposed legislation dropped off at Coles and Woolworths stores and put
passed 571 votes to into their RedCycle bins instead.
53. Labour MEPs said the EU plan must be respected by Recyclable materials that have been put in plastic
the UK after Brexit. Seb Dance, the party’s environment bags will be transferred to landfill. Any recycling
spokesman in the European parliament, said: “These waste should be kept loose in the recycling bin. Ryan
new measures will slash the use of single-use plastics in Collins, the recycling program manager for Planet
the EU. With more than 700,000 plastic bottles littered Ark, said Australians continued to make the same
in the UK every day, it would be negligent if the UK mistakes because of a lack of clear education around
does not maintain these new targets if we leave the EU. what can and can’t be recycled. Most Australians want
“Unless the UK mirrors EU action on plastics after Brexit, to recycle, he said, but were turning to councils and
the Tories risk turning the UK into a dumping ground for NGOs to provide them with more information. He
cheap, non-recyclable plastics.” said there were tools available to help, such as the
Australasian recycling label which is gradually being
Much plastic waste is washed into the ocean, where it may added to more household and consumer products. “It’s
take centuries to fully degrade. Lightweight single-use
items are among the most problematic of plastics because
they can easily travel long distances, absorbing toxins
along the way that damage marine flora and fauna. The
proposed legislation catapults the EU into a leadership
position in tackling the growing plastic pollution crisis. EU
states still have to back the directive before it becomes
law, but commission sources said they were optimistic
that action would continue to move quickly. “We hope an evidence-based label that tells you exactly what to
to have a vote in the European council in November,” do with different parts of packaging,” he said. Planet
one told the Guardian. The UK is yet to bring forward Ark’s report also found that despite 71% of people
primary legislation addressing the plastics issue despite being confident they knew what could be recycled,
publication of more than 20 consultations on the matter 61% would still like more information. Ninety per cent
since the general election last year. of Australians agreed that recycling was the right thing
to do.

Plastics News November 2018 5052