Europe agrees on single-use plastics directive

The Directive contains important provisions on the following matters:

The Directive provides that producers of, among other things, cigarette filters, balloons, specific food packaging and beverage packaging must pay for the clean-up costs of their litter (extended producer responsibility, Article 8 of the Directive). This will apply from January 2023 for packaging and cigarettes, and in 2024 for wipes and balloons.

This is a good measure, says environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux. It encourages companies to focus on litter prevention and better collection systems. It is also fairer than the current situation, where the bill for clean-up costs ends up with the municipalities, and therefore the taxpayers.

Member States will have to collect 90% of plastic bottles separately by 2029 (Article 9 of the Directive). This measure is necessary to keep plastic bottles out of nature and the sea. In practice, this means the introduction of deposit return schemes, as Norway and Germany have shown for years. But so far, the Dutch and Belgian governments have dragged their feet on introducing them.

The Directive also provides that all new plastic bottles must contain at least 30% recycled material from 2030. This decision will boost market demand for recyclates, and thus fuel the circular economy.

Furthermore, the following single-use plastic products are banned: straws, cotton buds, stirrers, cutlery and plates, beverage and food packaging made of expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) and so-called oxo-degradable single-use plastic products.

For certain food packaging containing plastics, such as Starbucks disposable cups or McDonalds fast-food packaging, Member States are expected to reduce consumption. This will mean that those companies will look for alternative materials and reusable packaging.

Member States must also introduce measures for fishing nets to prevent them from ending up in the sea. The precise implementation of this is left to the Member States.

Consequences of the new Directive

Both the Dutch and Belgian governments have pressed for an ambitious Directive from the very beginning.

At European level, the debate was led by EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans and Member of the European Parliament Frédérique Ries.

The targets prescribed by the European Directive are minimum targets. They are good because they act as a dot on the horizon. The European Member States will have to be that far by those deadlines at the latest.

The Directive will mean that ongoing agreements with the business community on litter and the collection of packaging will have to be broken open. New agreements will have to be made that do justice to the European agreements on litter and the reduction of certain plastic food packaging. For example, the Framework Agreement on packaging, which runs in the Netherlands until 2022, is no longer sustainable. And the new Packaging Plan recently agreed with the business community in Belgium is also immediately outdated and cannot possibly hold up.

Read also:

De Standaard, Europe steps up fight against plastic waste, 18/12

De Telegraaf, EU countries reach agreement on ban of single-use plastic, 19/12