Page 40 - Plastics News October 2021
P. 40

INTERNATIoNAL NEwS





          Spain To Ban Plastic Wrap For Fruits And  Philadelphia  Enforces

          Vegetables                                                             Ban On SUP Bags


                                                                                    ingle-use plastic bags are banned in
                                                                                 SPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, effective
                                                                                 October 01, 2021 after several delays.
                                                                                 The City Council approved the ban in
                                                                                 December 2019 but its implementation
                                                                                 was delayed due to the impacts of
                                                                                 Covid-19 on the business community,
                                                                                 particularly small businesses. An
                                                                                 ‘extensive’ education and awareness
                                                                                 period for its implementation began
                                                                                 on 1 July to help businesses prepare for
                                                                                 and comply with the law. There will also
                                                                                 be a six-month preparation period from
            n the battle against plastic pollution,  wrap, the draft decree is also considering  1 October to 1 April before the law is
          ISpain has zeroed in on a new target   measures to discourage  the  use  of  fully enforced. During this period, the
          the plastic used to wrap fruits and  plastic water bottles by encouraging the  City Council will issue warnings for
          vegetables in the supermarket. According  installation of public drinking fountains  failing to use compliant bags.The ban
          to reports Plastic-wrapped produce will  and the promotion of other alternatives,   covers all single-use plastic bags made
          be banned in the country beginning in  El País reported. The decree may also   from polylactic acid (PLA) created
          2023, according to a decree currently  begin reducing the number of plastic   through a blown film extrusion process,
          being drafted by the Ministry for  cups passed out at public events from   regardless of  their thickness.It also
          Ecological Transition, as sources familiar  2023 onward. Overall, the decree sets a   prevents retails establishments from
          with the matter said  "[We want to] fight  goal of reducing the number of plastic   providing any paper bag that does not
          the overuse of packaging in the most  bottles sold in the country for drinks by   contain at least 40% recycled content
          effective way," a ministry spokesperson  50 percent by 2030 and for making sure   or comply with the labelling criteria set
          told El País, adding that plastic pollution  100 percent of packaging is recyclable.
          "has exceeded all limits."Plastic packaging  Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition
          in Spain generates 1.6 million tonnes  has met with both business leaders and
          (approximately 1.8 million tons) of  green groups to discuss the new measures.
          plastic waste every year, according to  Greenpeace's Julio Barea said  that the
          Ministry of Ecological Transition figures  group approved of  the plastic wrap
          reported by The Local. Less than half  ban, but was waiting to see how it would
          of  that is ever recycled. The plastic  be applied. Overall, Barea said Spain's
          waste used to wrap fruits and vegetables  center-left government has not done
          has been opposed by environmental  enough to reduce plastic pollution. "We   out in the law.The ban does not affect
          groups both in Spain and abroad. Spain's  drink plastic, we eat plastic and we breathe   dry cleaner bags, bags sold in packages
          move also follows French legislation  plastic," Barea said. The new decree is   containing multiple bags, those used by
          that banned plastic wrap on fruits and  also in line with recommendations made   customers to hold perishable items for
          vegetables, which will go into effect  in the first ever review of the scientific   purchase, bags used by pharmacists for
          in January of 2022, as the Library of  literature on marine litter in Spain, that   prescription drugs or newspaper bags.
          Congress reported. The Spanish decree  says about microplastic contamination   Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said,
          follows the French law in only banning  along the entire Spanish coast, and   “Philadelphia remains committed to
          plastic wrap for portions weighing  outlined steps that international and   advancing our environmental goals, and
          under 1.5 kilograms (approximately 3.3  local governments,could take to reduce   the ban on single-use plastic bags will
          pounds.) In addition to banning plastic  plastic waste.                be an important step forward.


                                            40  PLASTICS NEWS  OCTOBER 2021                                                                                             41  PLASTICS NEWS  OCTOBER 2021
   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45