Plastic disposables banned in the EU from the beginning of the month.

Plastic disposables banned in the EU from the beginning of the month!

On 3 July 2021, the European Single-Use Plastics Directive came into force, which bans the marketing of single-use plastic products.

However, Romanians can still find disposable items on store shelves.

What are the reasons for the domestic reality and what will happen to existing products on the shelf that fall under the new regulations, are some of the questions that participants at the conference “Implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive. When, how and at what cost?”, organised by Green Report in partnership with Reciclad’OR.

Are disposable plastic products disappearing from shops or not?

The Single-Use Plastics Directive was issued two years ago and EU Member States have this period to adapt their national legislation.

Romania is still lagging behind in this area, but the authorities are optimistic, with a draft law submitted for approval.

“We have launched the draft Emergency Ordinance regulating the national implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive in the inter-ministerial approval circuit and it will be presented to the Government meeting soon”, said Barna Tánczos, Minister of Environment, Water and Forests.

According to Minister Barna Tánczos, the draft is an exact transposition of the Directive, while respecting the first-trading principle.

This means that shops can still sell plastic disposables but only from existing stocks, without the possibility of reordering and restocking.

“Existing stocks at traders’ level can be exhausted without a deadline, but apart from the quantities already placed on the market, no further quantities can be produced for Romania. Anyone making products for other third markets is not affected, they can still produce, but not for EU member countries,” said the Environment Minister.

What alternatives do HORECA operators have for take-away deliveries?

HORECA operators, heavily affected, will face a new period of transition and adaptation to the rules on single-use take-away containers and cutlery.

Because it’s not just drink straws or disposable plastic cutlery that are subject to the new regulations, but also expanded polystyrene packaging used in catering services.

Alin Vișan, President of the Romanian Association for Packaging and Environment, explained that although expanded polystyrene packaging for catering will be banned from the first day after the new law comes into force, plastic packaging for the same purpose will still be allowed on the market, but there are different targets to reduce their use from 5% in 2023 to 20% in 2026.

“The difference is that the plastic packaging will no longer be offered for free, but will be priced separately, and the customer will pay for the plastic crate”, explained Alin Vișan.

He also added the need for a national register of suppliers of alternatives to plastic products, plus tax breaks for producers of these alternatives to single-use plastic.

“This is a very important directive. There are many industries affected and many changes needed. It is necessary for the industry to have a predictable implementation act with clear deadlines”, added Alin Vișan.

Unique training in Romania, adapted to new regulations

All market players affected by the new regulations also stressed the need for information and education campaigns for the general public, including the final consumer.

“We are planning an awareness campaign on the subject of Single-Use Plastics, a campaign also approved by the CNA to be part of the series of messages of national interest, but for now we do not have the regulatory act to know exactly what we are communicating”, said Cosmin Teodoru, Director General at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests.

He stressed that the OIREPs will also have to assume their role of informing their customers and congratulated Reciclad’OR for the initiative to launch a circular economy training for the more than 700 companies in its portfolio.

“From tomorrow, 15 July, we will start a unique training in Romania, circular economy training, in which we try to find the best solutions to respond and adapt to new regulations. We will then be able to come up with real-world insight, concrete examples and realistic solution proposals”, announced Marius Brînzea, Strategy Director, Reciclad’OR, who said that the industry is making an extraordinary effort to align itself with these legislative changes, which involve a multitude of variables and a multitude of risks.

The Reciclad’OR representative believes that the market will first see a number of changes in packaging solutions and then changes in business models, making the transition to a Circular Economy.

The new regulations on the use of single-use plastic products will be applied once the Emergency Ordinance comes into force, most likely in autumn this year.

This article was taken from https://www.capital.ro/articolele-de-unica-folosinta-din-plastic-interzise-in-ue-de-la-inceputul-lunii-ce-se-intampla-cu-produsele-existente-la-raft-in-magazinele-din-romania.html.