Page 39 - Plastics News September 2019

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NWRA responds to proposed EPR WHO calls for more research
legislation into microplastics

KH 1DWLRQDO :DVWH DQG KH :RUOG +HDOWK 2UJDQL]DWLRQ :+2 KDV FDOOHG
TRecycling Association Tfor a further assessment of microplastics in the
1:5$ VHQW D OHWWHU WR 8GDOO environment and their potential impacts on human
and Lowenthal in response to health, following the release of an analysis of current
the legislation. According to research related to microplastics in drinking-water. The
1:5$ WKH DVVRFLDWLRQ EHOLHYHV Organization also calls for a reduction in plastic pollution
the proposals outlined by Udall WR EHQHÀW WKH HQYLURQPHQW DQG UHGXFH KXPDQ H[SRVXUH
and Lowenthal will lead to ´:H XUJHQWO\ QHHG WR NQRZ PRUH DERXW WKH KHDOWK
more contamination and that impact of microplastics because they are everywhere
Congress should focus on policy - including in our drinking-water,” says Dr Maria Neira,
initiatives that would expand Director, Department of Public Health, Environment and
the domestic recycling market. “There are better ways 6RFLDO 'HWHUPLQDQWV RI +HDOWK DW :+2 ´%DVHG RQ WKH
to address the issue of reducing plastic waste pollution limited information we have, microplastics in drinking
than by product stewardship or extended producer water don’t appear to pose a health risk at current
UHVSRQVLELOLW\ (35 ÀQDQFLQJ VFKHPHV µ VD\V 'DUUHOO OHYHOV %XW ZH QHHG WR ÀQG RXW PRUH :H DOVR QHHG WR
6PLWK SUHVLGHQW DQG &(2 RI 1:5$ (DUOLHU 8 6 6HQ stop the rise in plastic pollution worldwide. According
Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, and U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal, to the analysis, which summarizes the latest knowledge
D-California, have drafted legislation that is aimed at on microplastics in drinking-water, microplastics larger
reducing plastic waste that they hope would go into than 150 micrometres are not likely to be absorbed
effect this season. the proposal “includes a mix of in the human body and uptake of smaller particles is
phase-outs of certain single-use consumer products, an expected to be limited. Absorption and distribution of
extended producer responsibility (EPR) for those and very small microplastic particles including in the nano
other products and deposit or charge requirements at size range may, however, be higher, although the data is
the consumer retail level.” According to the proposed extremely limited. Further research is needed to obtain
legislation Producers would be required to design, manage a more accurate assessment of exposure to microplastics
DQG ÀQDQFH SURJUDPV IRU HQG RI OLIH PDQDJHPHQW RI and their potential
their products and packaging as a condition of sale. impacts on human
These programs may or may not use existing collection health. These
and processing infrastructure. Programs should cover all include developing
products in a given category. Producers would also help standard methods
cover costs of waste management and clean up. It also for measuring
includes Nationwide container deposit requirements that microplastic
states placing a national deposit requirement on beverage particles in water;
containers (all materials, including glass, plastic and more studies on
aluminum) to be added at the retail level and returned to the sources and
consumers for returning containers. Nonrefunded monies occurrence of
would go into the federal fund to assist with collection PLFURSODVWLFV LQ IUHVK ZDWHU DQG WKH HIÀFDF\ RI GLIIHUHQW
infrastructure. This also would require major beverage WUHDWPHQW SURFHVVHV :DVWHZDWHU WUHDWPHQW FDQ UHPRYH
retailers to install and operate reverse vending systems to more than 90% of microplastics from wastewater, with
promote collection of containers. A fee would be placed on the highest removal coming from tertiary treatment
the distribution of available carryout bags. That fee would VXFK DV ÀOWUDWLRQ By addressing the problem of human
be deposited into a federal fund. N:5$ EHOLHYHV VXFK D exposure to faecally contaminated water, communities
policy would lead to mislabeling further contributing to can simultaneously address the concern related
contamination in the waste stream, the association says. to microplastics.

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41 September 2019 Plastics News