Belgian MEP Frédérique Ries (ADLE), rapporteur on the draft directive to reduce the use of single-use plastics (SUP) in the EU in order to protect oceans will unveil her draft report on Wednesday 29 August at the European Parliament’s environment committee.
Ries greatly welcomes the proposal put on the negotiating table at the end of May for dealing with the source of macroplastics, which make up 70% of marine waste (see EUROPE 12028), because, as she points out, 95% of European citizens feel it is necessary or even urgently necessary to tackle this scourge. She wants to go further than the European Commission in terms of the lessons learned from the impact study on which the proposal is based – a study whose publication she is demanding.
Aware that the proposal leaves it to the member states to select the measures to be taken, her draft report mainly demands: -a setting of national figures for reducing the use of food containers and coffee cups within four years – a timing she feels goes far enough; - adding a demand for recycled plastic to make up at least 25% of the manufacture of plastic bottles by 2025 in line with the commitment taken by the sector; - adding to the directive an article on reducing waste from tobacco products after they have been used. This article would note that the member states should set reduction targets for plastic filters for cigarettes by 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2030, to follow the WHO recommendations and pledge to set up a system for collecting cigarette ends. Deterrent fines would be foreseen for smokers throwing their cigarette ends on the ground or down drains; - a clear signal of a ban on ultralight plastic bags; - a recycling incentive of 15% for fishing equipment.
On producers’ extended responsibility (PER), Ries says that the European Commission goes too far in terms of the cost of cleaning up the sea and beaches, and the setting up of a PER system should be postponed for three years until the end of 2024, the date foreseen for Directive 2018/852/EC on food packaging and waste. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)