Brussels – The EU has put itself at the forefront of the global fight against plastic soup by adopting new rules on single-use plastics.
Within two years all member states will have to implement a ban on selected single-use products for which alternatives exist on the market. This includes plastic cutlery, straws and plates, as well as food and drinks containers made of expanded polystyrene.
Extended producer responsibility schemes will be introduced for certain products that cause a lot of litter such as fishing gear and tobacco filters. These schemes must be implemented by 2023 or 2024 depending on the product.
A 90% target has been set for the separate collection of plastic bottles by 2029, with an intermediate target of 77% by 2025. The Commission hopes this will bring about the introduction of deposit refund schemes in most, if not all, member states.
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