19 July 2019

Food Contact News

EUROPE
GUIDANCE ON SORTING FOR RECYCLING

Plastics Recyclers Europe publishes guidance on sorting to enable high-quality recycling

In an article published on June 11, 2019, the trade organization Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) announced the launch of a new Guidance on quality sorting of plastic packaging. PRE recapitulated that currently in Europe “only 42%” of plastic packaging waste is recycled, thus there is a “need for more sustainable and effective waste management practices.” Since both the amount and the quality of recycled output are “directly affected by the quality of sorting practices,” the optimization of the latter would “ultimately secure high-quality input for recyclers.” The PRE’s vision is “to create a system where all the complementing steps, such as separate packaging waste collection, harmonized sorting standards and bales quality checks are optimized and equally enforced at the Member State level.” This would allow to “capture the value of plastic waste and transform it into new high-quality products, produced in accordance with the highest European safety standards.”

 

NORTH AMERICA
CANADA TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

Development of action plan announced for Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste; ban to focus on reducing plastic pollution, aims to begin by 2021 but details still to be finalized

On June 10, 2019 the Canadian government issued a communication detailing planned steps for tackling plastic pollution. An action plan for implementing a Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste will be developed, including the “banning of harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021 where supported by scientific evidence and when warranted – and taking other steps to reduce plastic waste”. Further, the communication notes that “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs are recognized as an effective mechanism to support the creation of a circular economy”. The Canadian government plans to establish EPR programs, as well as setting targets for “plastics collection, recycling, and recycled content requirements.” Additional measures were also discussed such as banning microbeads in personal care products beginning July 1, 2019