European Commission prepares strategy for improved recycling of plastic

The European Commission announced the strategy for plastic waste management on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, in Strasbourg, with the aim of having all plastic packaging recyclable by 2030 and limiting the consumption of single-use plastics.

– If we don't change the way we produce and use plastics, there will be more plastics than fish in our oceans by 2050. We must stop plastics getting into our water, our food, and even our bodies – First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, responsible for sustainable development, said.

The Commission pointed out that the strategy had three goals, which will benefit the economy, especially the plastic sector in the EU, which employs 1.5 million people and which had a turnover of EUR 340 billion in 2015, Hina reports.

The first goal is to make all plastic packaging on the EU market recyclable by 2030 in a cost-effective manner, the second goal is to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics, and the third goal is to ban the use of microplastics – plastic particles under five millimeters.

Another goal, it is said, is to put a stop to the disposal of waste into the sea.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Bruxelles

European Commission

plastic

recycling plastic

recycling plastic packaging

single use plastic

plastic sector of the European Union

microplastics

production of microplastics