ommission plans to reduce the use of plastic bags by 80% next year. It is etimated that about 710,000 tonnes of plastic bags are dumped each year which one of the main causes of sea pollution.Under the new proposal, Member States can choose whatever measures they find most appropriate to meet this requirement, including charges, national reduction targets or a total ban.
Biodegradable bags are not exempt, the European Commission says they should not be seen as an alternative to solving the problem of littering.
“Biodegradable plastic will only degrade in a reasonable time if disposed of and treated in appropriate conditions such as biological waste treatment facilities or industrial composting sites. Therefore, they do not constitute a solution to the problem of littering,” said Janez Potocnik, the EU Environment Commissioner.
After Ireland introduced a levy, plastic bag litter dropped by 95%. Scotland is bringing a 5p charge in 2014. Wales will be introducing a similar scheme shortly.
It is estimated that each EU citizen uses an average of 175 non-reusable plastic bags each year.
