Filenews 6 December 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Range of plastic products such as cutlery, plates, straws, cotton buds, disposable glasses, etc. should not be placed on the market after 3/7/2021, as provided for in a bill, which incorporates Directive 2019/904/EU on the limitation of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. The bill was tabled on 26/11/2021 in parliament and it is unknown when it will be debated. Nevertheless, manufacturers, producers and importers are aware of the provisions of the directive in consultations they had with the Department of the Environment and were required to distribute alternative products, more environmentally friendly, to the market after 3 July.
Also, for four other products (plastic cups, wet wipes, personal hygiene items and tobacco products), they had to be put up for sale if they were specially labelled. Through the European Directive on single-use plastics, measures are being taken to reduce, reuse and recycle products.
According to the European Directive on single-use plastics, as of 3/7/2021, the following apply: The placing on the market of the following single-use plastic products is prohibited: 1. Cotton buds with plastic strain (with the exception of those that fall under the medical equipment) 2. Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, food rods-chopsticks) 3. Dishes 4. Straws 5. Beverages agitators 6. Rods that attach and support balloons. 7. Food containers made of expanded polystyrene. 8. Expanded polystyrene beverage containers and their lids and covers 9. Cups made of expanded polystyrene and their lids and covers. 10. Products made of oxo-breakable plastic.
New labelling requirements
The single-use plastics listed below and placed on the market are required to be clearly, legible and indelible indelible so that citizens know which products are intended for reuse, recycling and composting.
1. Sanitary napkins, tampons 2. Wet wipes 3. Tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products. • Cigarettes or cigars with a filter containing plastic • Disposable filters containing plastic • Electronic device for use with a gasified tobacco product including a disposable filter containing plastic. 4. Cups for drinks.
For the marking of the above items, it is noted that a derogation has been granted, and it is possible for the products placed on the market before 4/7/2022, to be placed with a sticker. As of 4/7/2022, all the above mentioned products placed on the market must bear the printed label on the product or its packaging, depending on what is required by the relevant Regulation.
Reduction of consumption
A reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic products listed below is applied:
1. Beverage cups with their lids 2. Food containers. Containers such as boxes with or without a cover, in which food is placed.
Separate collection is ensured for recycling
Under the directive, a mandatory target of separate collection of plastic bottles of 77% is set for 2025 and 90% for 2023. To achieve the objective, it is possible to introduce guarantee drawback schemes, as well as to set targets for extended producer responsibility schemes.
Reduction of consumption of plastic water bottles
Extended producer responsibility schemes are established for all plastic products marked below:
Section A
1. Food containers 2. packets and wrappers of flexible material 3. beverage containers up to three liters 4. cups with their lids and covers 5. thin plastic carrier bags
Section B
1. Wet wipes 2. Balloons
Section C
1. Tobacco products with filters and filters, as well as for fishing gear containing plastic.
The schemes are established by 31 December 2024, but for systems established before 4/7/2018 and in relation to the single-use plastic products listed in Section C until 5/1/2023.
All caps attached to the bottles
According to the Directive from 3/7/2024, plastic beverage containers (including beverage bottles) up to 3 litres, bearing plastic caps and covers, will only be able to be placed on the market if the lids and lids remain attached to the containers during the planned stage of use of the product. On this issue, the European Commission has asked the European standardisation bodies to draw up harmonised standards on this requirement.
Regarding beverage bottles with a capacity of up to 3 litres:
a) from 2025 beverage bottles up to 3 litres made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a base material, contain at least 25% recycled plastic calculated as an average for all PET bottles placed on the market in the territory of the MS;
(b) from 2030 beverage bottles up to 3 litres made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a base material contain at least 30% recycled plastic calculated as an average for all PET bottles placed on the market in the territory of the member state.
