Tonnes of invisible nanoplastics in the Wadden Sea
Pioneering research suggests the scale of invisible nanoplastics in the Wadden Sea, and points to the potential dangers for marine life.
Berkeley (US) shows us how it’s done
Amsterdam, January 31st 2019 – Berkeley, California adopted the Single-Use Disposable Foodware and Litter Reduction Ordinance this month, and is now the first American city with a comprehensive plan to reduce waste from single-use plastics. In the City of Berkeley alone, approximately forty million on-the-go cups are discarded on an annual basis. Not anymore one year from now, when all plastic containers, utensils and cups should have been banned from the city. They will have been replaced by compostable alternatives. As of the summer of 2020, restaurants will only be allowed to offer reusable tableware and utensils.
But that’s not all. Berkeley also wants to reduce the amount of residual waste. A surcharge of 25 dollar cents per single-use on-the-go cup, even if compostable, will be introduced to that end. Companies are allowed to keep the 25-cent surcharge as a financial compensation for more expensive alternatives. The surcharge is also meant as an incentive for customers to bring their own cups.
Up till now, policy has been aimed at banning certain items. In the United States bans mostly concern drinking straws, plastic bags and polystyrene containers, while total usage of single-use plastics continues to increase. Berkeley is now striving for zero waste and has adopted a comprehensive plan to achieve this goal. The Berkeley City Council unanimously voted in favour of the plan.
Already now this initiative serves as an inspiring example for many other cities.
Here you can read the article about this initiative in the Los Angeles Times.
Photo by Arvind Grover
More news
Read more
Mea culpa from Ocean Conservancy for its influential 2015 report. Who will be next?
Industry can no longer deny adding to the plastic soup. Apologies are now being given for a report dating from 2015
€3bn INEOS plastics project finally faces court action
ClientEarth has taken the Flemish authorities to court to block petrochemicals giant INEOS’ plastics project.
Less plastic = less dependence on fossil fuels
Level one of the gas crisis issued. To be less dependent on fossil fuels, we can also use less plastic.
