During the plenary session (22-25/10/2018) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on a new law to forbid the sale of single-use plastic products such as cutlery, cotton bud sticks, plates, straws, beverage stirrers and balloon sticks within the EU from 2021. Statements by Frédérique RIES (ALDE, BE), Rapporteur, and Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The results are: 571 in favour, 53 against and 34 abstention. Illustrative shots on the use of plastic products, such as plastic cups, plastic straws, cuttlery, cotton buds and coffee capsules, and of plastic products disposed in nature.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

vote

plastic waste (T)

VELLA, Karmenu (MT, EC)

circular economy (T)

RIES, Frédérique (Renew, BE)

reduction of the environmental impact of plastics (T)

protection of ocean (T)

Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment: extracts from the vote and from the debate (22/10) and illustrative shots

SOUNDBITE (French), Fr&#233;d&#233;rique RIES (ALDE, BE), Rapporteur, Eight billions tones of plastic produced in less than 65 years, six billions tones of waste - the figures speak for themselves more than four billion tones for Europe alone. Oceans have become the dustbins and they are dying.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fr&#233;d&#233;rique RIES (ALDE, BE), Rapporteur, We are proposing a robust legal framework, a timetable to reduce the food containers, plastic cups and beakers. And to immediately reduce by 25% the consumption of the last two products. I fully sign up for that.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fr&#233;d&#233;rique RIES (ALDE, BE), Rappoerteur, For plastic bottles now, we aim for separate collection of 90%. We add in the requirement for the collection of the recycled content up to 35% for 2025. Some have already received that. For fishing gear, nets, lines, etc. which are responsible for 27% of the marine pollution. This is a priority. And we are beefing up the Comission's text by drawing on best practices coming form Norway and Iceland.

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, The directive aims at banning certain single-use plastic products where alternatives are readily available and affordable. As it is the case for cotton bud sticks, balloon sticks, cutlery, plates and straws. Where there is no real alternative material to plastic, the Directive's goal is to significantly reduce the use - this will apply to cups and lids, food containers and very light carrier bags. The Directive also proposes obligations for producers of tobacco, product filters, drink bottles, chip packages, wet wipes, drink cups and lids, food containers, balloons and very light weight carrier bags, to help to cover the cost of the waste management and clean up.

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Fishing gear represents around 27% of all beach litter, here users will be required to cover the costs of fishing-gear-related waste collection from port reception facilities, its transport and treatment.

Opening of the vote on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (4 shots)

Vote on the resolution as a whole - approved (4 shots) In favour: 571 votes Against: 53 votes Abstention: 34 votes

Illustrative shots on the use of plastic products, such as plastic cups, plastic straws, cuttlery, cotton buds and coffee capsules (9 shots)

Illustrative shots of plastic products disposed in nature (3 shots)