26th Oct 2018 - 07:00
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Single-use plastic items, such as plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks or cotton buds, will be banned in the EU under plans adopted on Wednesday (24 October).
In a similar move to plans announced earlier in the week by UK Government, the products, which make up 70% of marine litter, will be banned from the EU market from 2021, under draft plans approved by the Parliament.
Also banned will be products made of oxo-degradable plastics, such as bags or packaging and fast-food containers made of expanded polystyrene.
The consumption of several other items, for which no alternative exists, will have to be reduced by member states by least 25% by 2025, including single-use burger boxes, sandwich boxes or food containers for fruits, vegetables, desserts or ice creams.
Other plastics, such as beverage bottles, will have to be collected separately and recycled at a rate of 90% by 2025.
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