[Plastic] Since 2021, France and Greece will ban the production and use of single-use plastics, and there is a huge gap in alternatives

At the beginning of the new year, the European Union banned the export of "foreign garbage", South Korea plans to reduce the production of plastic products and increase the recycling rate, Australia promoted the implementation of the "foreign garbage" export ban through the "Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020", and France stopped the production of single-use plastics Products, Greece prohibits the purchase of disposable plastic products.

01.

The first ban in France in 2021: From January 1, 2021, disposable products such as disposable plastic straws, tableware or blenders will no longer be produced.

In addition, other disposable plastic items will gradually disappear from life, such as plastic beverage bottles, balloon sticks, plastic glitter and packaging paper scraps.

From 2021, expanded polystyrene boxes used by fast food restaurants to pack food such as skewers have also been included in the list of prohibited items.

"We will see them in circulation for another 6 months, but the good news is that these products will stop production.

In fact, because of the epidemic, this policy has also made certain concessions.

Originally planned to be implemented in January 2021: "The ban on plastic packaging of fruits and vegetables weighing less than 1.

The straws that were originally planned to be banned in January 2020 are now available in washable versions (such as stainless steel), as well as paper, bamboo and even straw versions.

"We are cautious about those "good methods" that look great.

Other bans will gradually come into effect in 2021, such as fast food restaurants banning the distribution of free plastic toys.

The end result of this plastic restriction order is that in the future, plastic containers containing shampoo, shower gel or washing powder will also disappear from our homes.

02, Greece

The Secretary-General of the Greek Ministry of Natural Environment and Water Resources Aravosis announced on December 30 that the public sector’s procurement of single-use plastics will be terminated on February 1, 2021, an important step towards achieving the goal of "plastic-free".

According to regulations, from February 1st, Greek public institutions will terminate the purchase of plastic tableware, plates, straws and beverage stirrers, styrofoam food and beverage containers and lids, and all non-biodegradable plastic products.

The European Commission has issued a ban earlier, requiring member states to ban the use of 10 single-use plastic products by 2021.

The Greek government regards increasing the cost of using plastic products as its primary measure.

According to the Greek government plan, from July 1st, municipalities across Greece must equip all playgrounds and municipal sports facilities with drinking water taps so that bottled water is no longer needed.

Starting from January 1, 2022, Greece will levy environmental taxes on plastic cups and lids and disposable food containers, and the income will be used for special "green funds" to take action to protect the marine environment.

The Greek government stipulates that by 2023, manufacturers of disposable products must establish their own recycling systems or participate in existing recycling systems.

Sarelax, the head of the "Aegean Breathing" organization, pointed out: "Shops and restaurants need to be more adequately prepared for the plastic restriction order.
I look forward to the availability of cheap plastic alternatives as soon as possible.
" Mary, head of the Greek environment department Na Papadakis said: "We are still working hard.
In the future, Greece will continue to promote recyclable trash cans in restaurants, markets, supermarkets and other areas where people are concentrated, and raise people’s awareness of garbage sorting.
At the same time, the government is actively cooperating with them.
All parties cooperate to accelerate the introduction of alternatives to plastic products.
"

This year is the first year of a comprehensive ban on waste.
With the support of the ban on plastics and the national recycling plan, will waste plastic recycling usher in a new change?

(Keyword: Plastic Ban)