In Bournemouth, readers of The Breaker agree there is a plastic waste crisis.
One person said: “It just means hopefully we will end up using less plastic or at the very least use plastic that we can actually recycle properly and be able to reuse it again.”
To listen to other readers opinions click below.
The new rules having been voted on Wednesday to ban single-use plastic items, including straws, earbuds, ballon sticks, plates and cutlery.
It will also include products made of oxo-degradable plastic and food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene.
From 623 Members of the European Parliament, 560 voted in favour of the agreement, 35 against and 28 abstained.
Concerns about plastic pollution in oceans and stories of marine species found with plastic inside them led the EU to take drastic steps to tackle the issue.
Member states will face a 90% collection target for plastic bottles by 2029, and plastic bottles will have to be made from at least 25% of recycled content by 2025 and 30% by 2030.
“This legislation will reduce the environmental damage bill by €22bn – the estimated cost of plastic pollution in Europe until 2030,” said Lead MEP Frédérique Ries.
This is essential for the planet.
He added: “Europe now has a legislative model to defend and promote at international level, given the global nature of the issue of marine pollution involving plastics. This is essential for the planet.”
The ban will be confirmed by the Council of Ministers, ready to come into force in 2021.
5 ways to reduce single-use plastic in your day-to-day life
