Plastic recyclers comment on the ongoing problem of low plastic collection rates in the U.S.; criticize soft drink companies for fighting introduction of bottle deposit tax, call for collection rate to rise from 30% to 70%
UK may tax single-use plastics
UK government considers taxing disposable plastic items such as coffee cups and takeaway food containers to reduce plastic waste and pollution; call for evidence to be launched in 2018
Not all OECD test guidelines appropriate for nanomaterials
OECD publishes report on January 2013 expert meeting on ecotoxicology and environmental fate of nanomaterials, discusses appropriateness of OECD test guidelines for nanomaterials
Nestlé launches packaging research institute
Swiss multinational food and drink company holds inauguration event for new institute to focus on food packaging research; focus to be placed on re-useable packaging, simplifying packaging design, transitioning to paper and biodegradable and compostable plastics
UK moves ahead with plastic packaging tax
Government announces tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content beginning April 2022; £200 per metric ton set to be charged, exemptions will exist for small quantities
California bans plastic straws
U.S. state California prohibits providing plastic straws in sit-down restaurants unless requested by customers; law takes effect January 1, 2019
FDA: Consultation on threshold for regulation process
U.S. Food and Drug Administration promotes threshold for regulation approach for food contact materials, defines types of information to be submitted by applicants; public comments accepted until August 20, 2019
Retailer report card on chemical safety
‘Mind the Store’ campaign publishes updated report scoring 43 major North American retailers on their actions to remove toxic chemicals from their products; finds improvement over past year in 63% of companies reviewed, focus has been on eliminating PFAS, ortho-phthalates, and bisphenols from products
ECHA’s CLH proposal on TBBPA open for consultation
Norway submits harmonized classification and labeling (CLH) proposal to European Chemical Agency (ECHA) for brominated flame retardant tetrabrombishpenol A (TBBPA); suggests adding classification of being possibly carcinogenic following rodent studies providing evidence; proposal still open for comments until January 29, 2021
It’s time for regulating high persistence chemicals, scientists find
Viewpoint article points out high persistence of chemicals as the main driver for global chemical pollution footprints; urge development of chemicals regulation addressing high persistence alone