This new agreement is targeting the 10 plastic products most often found on our beaches.

“The new EU directive on Single-Use Plastics will be the most ambitious legal instrument at global level addressing marine litter. It envisages different measures to apply to different product categories. Where alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products will be banned from the market, such as plastic cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers, sticks for balloons, products made of oxo-degradable plastic and food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene For other products, the focus is on limiting their use through a national reduction in consumption; on design and labelling requirements; and waste management/clean-up obligations for producers.” [Read more …]

Awareness-raising measures: Member States will be obliged to raise consumers’ awareness about the negative impact of littering of single-use plastics and fishing gear as well as about the available re-use systems and waste management options for all these products. ” Zero Waste Montenegro will support Montenegrin Government in raising awareness on those single-use plastics items:

List of single-use plastic items concerned by this new agreement:

Food containers
Cups for beverages
Cotton bud sticks
Cutlery, plates, stirrers, straws
Sticks for balloons
Balloons
Packets & wrappers
Beverage containers, their caps & lids
– Beverage bottles
Tobacco product filters
Sanitary items:
– Wet wipes
– Sanitary towels
Lightweight plastic carrier bags

 

Single-use plastics: ambitious agreement in EU to reduce marine litter