The EU Parliament has approved a law banning disposable plastic products such as plates, cutlery, straws, and sticks. During 2021, among others, the following products will be banned in the EU:

• Disposable plastic cutlery
• Disposable plastic plates
• Plastic straws
• Plastic sticks

New recycling targets and more responsibility for producers

EU members will have to reach the target of 90% of the collected waste by 2029 (e.g plastic bottles), plastic bottles will have to reach 25% of the content of recycled material by 2025, or 30% by 2030.

According to European Commission reports, over 80% of waste that ends up in the seas and oceans is made of plastic. The products covered by this law represent 70% of waste. Due to the long decay time, waste plastic accumulates in the seas, oceans, and coasts around the world. Plastic waste have been found in marine animals such as turtles, whales and birds, but also in fish and shellfish.

Source: EU Parliament, Batiste Chatain, March 2019