Topics
recycling
July 28, 2020
European Council agrees €0.80 tax per kilogram on non-recycled plastic packaging waste starting January 1, 2021; exact law still needs to be developed and then approved by European Parliament and Council of the EU
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 28, 2020
Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA CEP panel and working groups on BPA, FCMs, and recycling plastics published; scientific opinions on benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BDTA), multiple recycling processes published
Reading time: 3 minutes
June 18, 2020
Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow evaluates 50 largest US consumer-facing companies on their responses to address plastic pollution crisis; finds most companies too slow in adopting actions to prioritize packaging reduction and to promote reusability, recyclability, compostability; outlines key recommendations
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 12, 2020
European Commission (EC) publishes roadmap document describing initiative to review and revise EU requirements on packaging and packaging waste; impact assessment set to be completed in 2020, revisions to be adopted in 2021; open for public comment until August 6, 2020
Topics: recycling, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
June 2, 2020
Plastics Recyclers Europe publishes new and revised characterization guiding requirements for recyclers to characterize received wastes, now includes recommended requirements for polyethylene and polypropylene films among others
Reading time: 1 minute
May 25, 2020
Joint report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) maps and assesses global labeling schemes and claims related to recycling and disposal of plastic packaging; recommends global harmonization of definitions, better consideration of actual local conditions, restriction of chasing arrows symbol, labels being verified with enforcement of proper use
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 15, 2020
Recycling association, non-governmental organization, and European Commission comment on ways to safely minimize and manage substances of concern in recycling streams during transition to circular economy; Dutch national institute publishes report identifying challenges and recommendations, describes 2050 national goal
Topics: circular economy, recycling
Reading time: 4 minutes
May 11, 2020
Researchers investigate current waste management system, identify long-term waste management contracts with local authorities as limiting improvements and innovation; recommend better distribution of value across system using extended producer responsibility, deposit schemes
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 6, 2020
Government announces minimum 15 cent deposit that will apply to plastic beverage bottles less than 3 liters; new deposit regulations come into force on July 1, 2021; EU single-use plastic regulations become effective on January 1, 2022
Reading time: 1 minute
April 29, 2020
British Plastics Federation publishes guidelines to help companies incorporate recycled content into their plastic packaging; RECOUP issues updated guidelines for designing plastic packaging for recyclability
Reading time: 1 minute
