Filenews 16 November 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment is the goal of new harmonizing legislation adopted yesterday by the Council of Ministers, following a proposal submitted by the Minister of Environment, Costas Kadis. With the passage of the legislation by the Parliament, the Ministry of Environment will take a series of measures such as pricing or imposition of taxes and fees and restriction on the purchase of plastic products, the establishment of extended producer responsibility schemes, the establishment of guarantee refund schemes, separate collection and development of products for multiple uses.
This bill brings it into line with Directive (EU) 2019/904, which aims to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in particular the aquatic environment and human health, as well as to promote the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials, thus contributing to the efficient functioning of the internal market.
This Directive ensures the reduction of use or a total ban on certain single-use plastic products, the labelling of certain products, the inclusion of a percentage of recycled material in them, participation in extended producer responsibility schemes, separate collection, awareness-raising measures, data retention and the setting of targets, measures, as well as the introduction of guarantee drawback systems.
In particular, the main provisions of the amending bill concern:
>> Reduce the consumption of certain single-use plastic products.
>> Restrictions on the placing on the market of certain single-use plastic products and products made of oxo-breakable plastic.
>> The application of specific requirements to certain single-use plastic products.
>> The obligation to include a recycled plastic content in certain plastic products.
>> The obligation to apply labelling to certain plastic products.
>> The obligation to participate in extended producer responsibility schemes for certain single-use plastic products.
>> The introduction of separate collection in certain plastic products.
>> The implementation of awareness-raising measures.
>> The obligation to submit annual reports and information on certain plastic products.
The implementation of the proposed legislation is expected to affect companies producing and/or importing plastic products, due to the reduction of certain types of products, the ban on placing on the market of certain items, the inclusion of a proportion of recycled material in the production of PET products from 2025, the labelling requirements, the obligation for producers to cover the costs of awareness-raising measures; collection of waste cleaning, data collection and separate collection.
The legislation will prohibit the placing on the market of single-use plastic products, as well as products made of oxo-breakable plastic. Specifically, these products include, among others: Cotton buds, cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, food chopsticks), dishes, straws, beverage stirrers, sticks attached to and support balloons, food containers made of expanded polystyrene, i.e. containers such as boxes, with or without a cover, in which food is placed, beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene and their lids and covers and finally cups made of expanded polystyrene and their caps and covers.
