New bills require 50% recycled content in containers within deposit program by 2030; businesses to provide customers with recycling containers on their establishments; further bills to be discussed in 2020
US EPA announces national recycling strategy
New strategy sets out five objectives including improving markets for recycled commodities, increasing collection, and standardizing measurements; sets nationwide recycling rate target of 50% by 2030; agency to work with stakeholders over coming months on implementation
Germany rejects EU recycling targets
EU recycling targets for municipal waste under discussion; Germany proposes new calculation method and data collection before introducing targets under the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy
France bans TiO2 in food
France bans titanium dioxide in food by 2020 following report by ANSES reiterating 2017 recommendation to reduce exposures; EFSA does not see need to open reassessment at the moment
Petition urges US FDA to ban lead in FCMs
Formal petition requests revision of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lead standards, calls for banning lead in all FCMs; argues simple measures could significantly decrease lead level exposure from food
Efforts to track plastic flows in EU and Canada
EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes improved model of plastic product flows and recycling in the EU; new model design is easy to update when new information becomes publicly available; Canada consulting on a draft plastic products registry to track plastic flows in the country
India: Stronger recycled plastic rules after push back, new EPR program
India implements extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for plastic packaging, effective immediately; recycling targets for plastic producers, importers, and brand-owners start at 25% and progressively get stricter; Indian standards authority strengthens regulations for recycled plastic in food contact after receiving pushback
Researchers associate diet and microplastics with EDC exposure
Epidemiological studies investigate association between diet and endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure; find recommended healthy diets not protective against EDC exposure; report association of plastic-free diet with reduced urinary bisphenol A (BPA) in children; researchers performing bioaccessibility tests using gut fluids find release of phthalates and BPA from microplastics may pose human health risk
Limited ECHA database due to funding
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) set to create limited, prototype version of database on substances of very high concern in products; talks on sustainable financing solutions ongoing
Quality-marked PET bottles to contain more recyclate
German quality label RAL Gütezeichen intends to increase average recycled content in PET beverage packaging to 50% by 2022