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EU Moves to Regulate Single-Trip Plastic Bag Use

07.11.2013 -

As part of its ongoing effort to curb plastics waste, the European Union is tightening the reins on distribution of disposable carrier bags. On Nov. 4, the European Commission (EC) announced guidelines that would require member states to implement restrictions while allowing them to "choose the measures they find most appropriate." This could include charging for bags, instituting national reduction targets or even a ban under certain conditions.

"We're taking action to solve a very serious and highly visible problem," said environment commissioner Janez Potocnik, noting that "every year more than eight billion plastic bags end up as litter in Europe." If all member states followed the measures already adopted by some others, he said total consumption of plastic bags in the EU could be reduced by 80%.

From a legislative perspective, the Commission's plan is to amend its Packaging and Packaging Waste directive dating from 1994. This has no specific rules for plastic bags. The amended legislation would require member states to restrict consumption of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 50 microns, which Potocnik said are less frequently reused and often end up as litter. It also would encourage the use of economic incentives for reduction of bag consumption.

Member states are expected to transpose the revised directive into their own laws 12 months after it enters into force - after approval of the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament - and to take steps to reduce single-trip bag consumption within two years. The national governments will be responsible for implementation, monitoring and enforcement of the national measures.

To reassure European producers of plastic bags, who have traditionally opposed any restrictions on consumption, the Commission said the net impact on their business should be positive. Although use of the thinner single-trip bags should decline, 70% of these are imported. The legislation should encourage the consumption of thicker, multi-use alternatives.

The EU - at the instigation of its Environmental Council - has been statistically evaluating the role of plastics bags in waste streams since 2011, after some member states already had begun to take action on a national level. In 2012, the European plastics producers association PlasticsEurope formulated its target of "Zero Waste to Landfill 2020". In March 2013, the Commission launched a consultation on plastics waste, inviting proposals for problem-solving up to June.

The Commission's figures show that in 2010 some 98.6 million plastic carrier bags, around 198 per person and 89% single use, were sold in the then 27 member states. Consumption ranged from four per person in Denmark - which, like Ireland, has a tax on plastic bags - and Finland to 466 in Poland, Portugal and Slovakia. Twelve member states currently have some restrictions in place.

Apart from the problem of consumers carelessly tossing plastic bags into the landscape, statistically about half of all plastics wastes in the EU are landfilled. Last year, PlasticsEurope estimated that seven EU member states were diverting over 90% of plastics waste from landfill, while 15 others still buried over 60%.

Estimates vary as to how much land-based plastics waste contributes to the widely recognized problem of marine litter. According to the Commission, plastic bags have been found to account for more than 70% of total debris along the Mediterranean seacoast.

European Bioplastics, which, as could be expected, favours reduction of oil-based plastic bag consumption, said it supports the Commission's basic approach. At the same time, it urged tax exemptions for compostable bags. The organization pointed out that plans by Italy to discontinue the use of traditional single-trip bags in favour of compostable alternatives were torpedoed by the UK government, which objected to the levying of fines.

U.S. manufacturer of bioplastics, Cereplast, said the proposed legislation could create an annual demand for 1 million t of bioplastic alternatives to conventional plastic bags.