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Drinking straws, stirring sticks, cotton swabs: mega-plastic ban from July - this will no longer exist

2021-06-28T20:34:27.849Z


The EU-wide ban on single-use plastic will come into force on July 3rd. This means that plastic products should not only disappear from the market, but also from the environment.


The EU-wide ban on single-use plastic will come into force on July 3rd.

This means that plastic products should not only disappear from the market, but also from the environment.

Berlin - There will be drastic changes for consumers from July: Single-use plastic products will be banned from July 3, 2021.

This applies not only to Germany, but to the entire European Union.

Disposable cutlery and tableware made of plastic, drinking straws, stirring sticks, cotton swabs and balloon sticks made of plastic as well as to-go drink cups, fast food packaging and disposable food containers made of expanded polystyrene (known as Styrofoam) may then no longer be produced, according to the Federal Government .

Existing goods can of course still be sold.

EU ban on single-use plastic: the end of plastic straws and co.

Disposable plates, cups or cutlery made from bio-based or biodegradable plastics are also affected by the ban.

And even disposable tableware made of cardboard, which is only made of plastic to a small extent or is covered with plastic, is taboo from July 3rd.

"Other disposable products made of or with plastic remain permitted, such as wet wipes and certain hygiene articles, cigarettes with plastic-containing filters or disposable beverage cups," said the federal government.

But there will also be a change for these products from July 3rd: They must be given a special label.

This is intended to warn of environmental damage caused by plastic and inform consumers about correct disposal.

Ban on single-use plastic: Less waste for the environment

With the ban on single-use plastic, less waste is to be produced in the future and the environment is to be better protected.

Because often plastic packaging ends up in nature.

Every year, several million tons of plastic waste end up in the oceans around the world.

Around 85 percent of all marine litter consists of plastics, explains the federal government.

The North and Baltic Seas are not exempt from this waste problem either.

"The flood of rubbish endangers the habitats in the seas, it affects the recreational value of nature and human health."

Hourly

According to the Federal Environment Ministry, around 320,000 disposable cups are used for hot drinks in Germany alone.

According to the Federal Environment Agency, the total amount of plastic waste rose by 3.9 percent to 6.15 million tons between 2015 and 2017.

That was the highest level so far.

The fight against plastic waste is "one of the most important environmental issues worldwide," emphasized Angela Merkel on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5th.

"We will find out: It will be easy to do without it and it will be a great relief for our environment."

2022: Further measures against plastic waste

Further changes are to be implemented in 2022.

So even light plastic bags may no longer be put into circulation.

In addition, a deposit for one-way plastic beverage bottles will apply from next year.

"Now and in the next few years it is important to act decisively - for the preservation of our environment, our own livelihoods, and for future generations all over the world," said Merkel on World Environment Day.

This was under the motto "No to disposable plastic - yes to reusable!"

(Jsch)

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Source: merkur

All life articles on 2021-06-28

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