Connect with us

Economy

EU restricts use of plastic bags to protect environment

SHARE:

Published

11 years ago

on

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

20150331PHT39718_originalUp to 200 plastic bags are thrown away every year by the average European, most of them after having been used only onve. The tiny particles these bags are made of can enter water or even the food cycle. To reduce these risks, the EU wants to restrict the use of plastic bags. MEPs and the Council have agreed a deal, which the environment committee will put to a vote on 31 March, ahead of the plenary vote in April. Watch the meeting and check out the chart on the use of plastic bags in the EU.
The proposal
EU countries would be required to choose between two approaches to reduce the use of lightweight plastic bags:

  1. Bring down the number of lightweight plastic bags used by each person to 90 bags per person every year by the end of 2019; and to no more than 40 bags per person by 2025, and;
  2. put an end to plastic bags being given away for free when buying goods by the end of 2018.

Environmental impactEach year eight billion plastic bags end up as litter, including in seas where plastic particles can get into animals and eventually appear in the food chain.

The problem with so-called biodegradable bags

Oxo-biodegradable bags also break up into micro-particles so while giving the impression of not littering the environment, they do so invisibly.
Under the new rules, it would be up to the European Commission to set specifications on labelling and look into ways to limit the use of oxo-biodegradable bags.

More information

Share this article:

Share this:
Related Topics:
EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter. Please see EU Reporter’s full Terms and Conditions of publication for more information EU Reporter embraces artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance journalistic quality, efficiency, and accessibility, while maintaining strict human editorial oversight, ethical standards, and transparency in all AI-assisted content. Please see EU Reporter’s full A.I. Policy for more information.
Advertisement

Trending