France targets plastic waste problem
September 6, 2018
The nation is introducing a series of measures designed at promoting plastic recycling, in the face of a global epidemic.
According to K-Zeitung, France is planning to introduce a deposit system for plastic bottles, as well as encouraging manufacturers to make plastic products out of recyclable plastics, at low costs, and make non-recyclable plastic products more expensive. It also plans to make the landfilling of plastic waste more expensive, to deter people from dumping their waste, and the consequential environmental problems this creates.
The measures, announced recently by Brune Poirson, the country’s Environment Secretary, are “intended to create a clear incentive for manufacturers, especially of plastic packaging, to rely on recyclable plastic.”
BVSE CEO Eric Rehbock welcomed the strategy, which includes several measures also implemented in Germany, although he lamented that “unfortunately it refuses to prohibit the dumping of plastic waste.” Yet the act of making plastic waste disposal significantly more expensive is a positive move, he opined, and would have the desired effect.
Rehbock also stated that BVSE would monitor the outcome of the new measures with interest, and stated that it would provide a particularly pertinent example for Germany, which still had further to go in its own battle against plastic.
“Even Germany still has some catching up to do,” said Rehbock, “so that the ambitious goals of the given recycling rates can be met in the future as well, so it may well be that we can learn from this French way.”
Categories : Around the Industry
Tags : Environment France Plastic Waste
