Greece was fined 127 million euros by the EU for its poor performance in recycling plastics; Sweden and India continue to increase the ban on plastics

The 5th United Nations Environment Assembly resumed session is about to be held, and the establishment of a "Global Plastic Pollution Convention" is imminent
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In February, Sweden and India continued to increase the ban on plastics.
Greece will pay a high fine to the EU this year due to its poor performance in recycling plastics
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Greece fined 127 million euros by EU

As a member of the European Commission, Greece is not doing well in plastic recycling
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According to the China-Greece Times, a report released by the Economic and Industrial Research Foundation, a Greek think tank, shows that about 43,000 tons of plastic packaging in Greece is neither buried nor recycled every year
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For this, Greece will pay a fine of 127 million euros to the EU this year
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Sweden's new plastic reduction policy: halve single-use plastic tableware within four years

The Swedish government announced the latest plastic reduction policy on February 21, local time, reducing the impact of plastics on the environment by increasing regulations such as increasing the recycling of plastics and increasing green jobs
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Sweden's climate and environment minister, Annika Strandhll, introduced Sweden's first action plan for plastics disposal at a press conference, hoping to make it possible to include in newly manufactured plastic packaging by 2030.
30% are recyclable materials; by 2026, consumption of single-use plastic cups and lunch boxes will be reduced by 50% compared to 2022
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Strandhal mentioned that one of the measures to achieve this is that from January 2024, larger companies or units must provide returnable cups or meal boxes when selling food or drinks
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At the same time, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency) will also conduct an investigation to analyze and understand the situation of Swedes' use of plastics and make recommendations, so that the right types of plastics can be used in the right places, reduce the problem of subsequent disposal of plastics, and make plastics Products into the circular economy system
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The Swedish government says plans to use plastic sustainably are important for Sweden to reach its carbon-free 2045 goal
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From January 1 this year, Sweden banned the sale of disposable tableware with more than 15% plastic content, including foam plastic (Styrofoam) tableware
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Faced with such problems, scientists advocate stricter solutions, such as limiting production
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India to implement single-use plastic ban from July 1

On February 4, local time, India's central pollution prevention and control department issued a notice to notify some disposable plastic product manufacturers, distributors, retailers, e-commerce companies, shopping malls, etc.
to ensure that there is zero inventory of contraband before June 30
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India's Central Pollution Control Board said that India will completely ban some single-use plastic products from July 1 this year
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“We have issued instructions to the State Pollution Control Board, virtually all e-commerce sites, single-use plastic sellers and users, the Central Committee of Indirect Taxes and Customs, stating that in the August 12, 2021 circular, no single-use plastics should be sold, stored or used," said a board official, who asked not to be named
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"There have been several meetings and discussions on the implementation of the ban, so we expect all stakeholders to comply
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Prohibited plastic items include earplugs, flags, candy and ice cream bars, decorative hot glue, PVC banners less than 100 microns thick, stirrers, wrapping films, cups, glasses and cutlery
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In addition, from December 31, plastic tote bags with a thickness of less than 120 microns are not allowed
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According to a fact sheet released by the Ministry of the Environment and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERFI), a think tank, around 43 percent of plastic is used in packaging, most of which is single-use
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India uses about 9.
7 kilograms of plastic per capita, mainly packaging materials, the central pollution agency estimates
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If consumption patterns and waste management practices do not improve, by 2050 there will be approximately 12 million tonnes of plastic waste in landfills and the environment
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On July 29 last year, federal pollution watchdogs directed all state pollution control boards to conduct quarterly assessments of single-use plastic phase-out in their jurisdictions, along with details on production capacity and replacements
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But the information submitted by states was incomplete, according to the latest instructions issued earlier this month
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The board met with state counterparts on Jan.
21 to assess the situation and then developed an action plan to phase out certain plastic items
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It has directed the National Council to revoke or amend licences and registrations issued to producers of single-use plastics to ensure they achieve zero inventories by July 1
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And the National Pollution Commission must also instruct raw material manufacturers and e-commerce companies to stop supplying and selling prohibited items
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They must also publish announcements in their jurisdictions and issue new commercial licenses to major retailers, retailers, sellers, commercial establishments, so they don't stockpile or use prohibited items
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States are also required to create local bylaws to levy compensation in line with central guidelines if the ban is violated
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The current global plastic production has doubled since 2000 to 367 million tons, but less than 10% is recycled, and the total weight of plastic on earth is four times the biomass of all living animals
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Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme, said on the 14th that the United Nations is expected to hold a meeting in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, at the end of the month to discuss how to deal with the problem of plastic pollution "from the source to the ocean"
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Countries around the world will discuss the creation of the world's first treaty to tackle plastic pollution, and regulations are expected to reduce the production and use of single-use plastics
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The industry is about to usher in great opportunities and a new chapter of high-quality development
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