Brussels, 21/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - A new step was agreed by the EU on Friday 21 November to put the brake on using lightweight single-use plastic bags, which pollute seas and oceans.
Meeting in Brussels, the permanent representative of the member states confirmed the first reading agreement, reached on 17 November between negotiators from the European Parliament and Council, on the amendment to the Packaging Waste Directive (see EUROPE 11201). The objective of the new rules is to encourage the prevention of waste from plastic bags of a thickness below 50 microns and to encourage a more efficient use of resources.
“This agreement reached will enable Europe to effectively tackle a very relevant environmental problem (…) Today we have the right tools to greatly limit the use of plastic bags and to disseminate new environmental best practices that contribute to developing waste management in the individual states and at European level”, said acting president of the Environment Council, Gian Luca Galletti.
The member states will either have to take measures to guarantee that by 31 December 2018 these plastic bags are no longer distributed free of charge to consumers, or will have to take measures to guarantee that annual consumption does not exceed 90 bags per person by 31 December 2019 and 40 bags per person by 31 December 2025 (compared with 176 in 2010).
Very lightweight bags (less than 15 microns) can be excluded from the scope of application of these new rules.
The European Commission and its member states will encourage public information and awareness campaigns on the adverse environmental impact of excessive use of these plastic bags - over 8 billion of which are found as litter in the EU's seas and oceans every year.
Once adopted, the directive will have to be transposed by the member states within 18 months. Two years after it enters into force, the Commission will submit one report to the Parliament and Council on the environmental impact of oxo-degradable plastic bags (which cannot be recycled and are not compostable), and another report on the possibilities of reducing the use of very lightweight bags. This will be ahead of a proposal to amend the directive, if necessary.
MEPs from the Parliament's environment committee will vote on approving the agreement in Strasbourg during the evening of 24 November. The Environment Council's political agreement is expected on 17 December, which will enable the swift adoption of a common position. Formal adoption of the directive is expected in spring 2015.
EEB welcomes crucial agreement. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) immediately welcomed the agreement as crucial for substantially reducing pollution from these plastic bags. “This is good news for Europe and the environment. In 92% of cases, these bags are used only once and then become waste. They have little economic value but a highly detrimental and visible impact on the environment”, said Piotr Barczak, the EEB's policy officer on waste.
The EEB nevertheless regrets the fact that the idea of banning oxo-degradable bags has been abandoned (a ban which was favoured by the Parliament but which several member states, led by the UK, did not want to envisage). Delighted that European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans backed down on opposing this agreement, the EEB now hopes that the EU institutions will back the draft review of the Waste Directive, with objectives of increased recycling (the only legislative instrument from July's Circular Economy Package). Juncker intends to submit this package to reassessment in order to legislate better (see EUROPE 11186, 11113).
European plastics industry alarmed. By contrast, PlasticsEurope is alarmed at the potential negative effects of the Coreper-confirmed agreement. The European plastics industry says it supports an obligatory charge being made on all bags - whatever material they are made from. It fears, however, that the possibility offered to member states of banning lightweight single-use bags may lead to a patchwork of different national regulations and that this fragmentation of the internal market may create a precedent for banning other types of packaging at national level. “The possibility to ban plastic bags goes against the general principle of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (…) Such an inconsistent political framework that would allow member states to introduce different regulations on packaging would hinder investments and innovation, and would create barriers to trade in packaged goods”, says Karl-H Foerster, the executive director of PlasticsEurope. (AN)