The EU Turns For Greener Pastures
The year is 2030; life has been discovered on thirteen planets, animals are communicating with humans and the European Union has shifted to 100% reusable or recyclable single-use plastic packaging. One of these predictions took a monumental step closer to becoming a reality this week in Brussels when the European Commission announced a war on plastic waste. The 27.5 million tons of plastic waste Europe produces yearly had piled too high for politicians and citizens alike. The First Vice President of the European Union, Frans Timmermans, proclaimed, “By 2030 which is only 12 years away, all plastic packages in the EU market must be reusable or recyclable in a profitable manner. We are going to turn out packaging legislation inside out and review what kind of plastic packaging can be put on the market to enable easy and cost-effective recycling”. This recent goal comes in wake of China banning all imported recyclable material (junk). Although all measures must be voted on by the European Parliament, the strategy seems sound, allowing room for both economic and ecologic growth.
One proposed amendment to stop this plastic plague in Europe is to increase taxes on single-use plastics such as straws and coffee cups. On the new tariff, Timmermans said, “We are going to turn out packaging legislation inside out and review what kind of plastic packaging can be put on the market to enable easy and cost-effective recycling”. According to the calculations of the budget commission, revenue from the plastic waste tax could fill the enormous economic void left by BREXIT. If higher taxes do not increase Europe’s 30% plastics recycling rate, maybe the £300 million invested in green research will. New research will not only focus on ways to recycle and generate new types of eco-friendly plastics, but also ways to limit the consumption of single-use plastics, such as water bottles, by introducing clean drinking water to European streets. By the end of 2030, the European Union is striving for 55% of all its plastic to be recycled and is even hoping to reduce the number of plastic bags used yearly per person from 90 to 40.
In the past year, America has also gone green, for money that is. The Environmental Protection Agency has had its budget slashed, greatly stifling their recycling and renewable energy projects. Coal, an ancient energy source, has been breathed new life. Forestation and animal protection laws have been discarded like old, unrecyclable garbage. Luckily cities here in Massachusetts have not gotten this destructive memo. Now more than ever an effort is being made by communities throughout Massachusetts to help protect the future. Currently 61 cities have banned together and proposed Statewide Plastic Bag Law S.424. The Lab World Group admires these cities and looks to be on the forefront fighting waste and promoting recycling. Help the environment and your pockets! Give us a call to help recycle your retired pharmaceutical and used laboratory equipment today!
