Plastic straws and single-use bags vanish from China as ban kicks in
In China, 2020 was bid farewell with a flurry of fireworks and the scratching off of 200 million metric tonnes of plastic straws from the nation’s pollution inventory.
Plastic pollution
Plastic pollution touches every ocean, watershed, and food chain on Earth — but solutions are gaining ground. This archive tracks scientific advances, policy wins, and community-led efforts that are reducing plastic waste and cleaning up what’s already out there.
E.U. bans exporting unsorted plastic waste to poorer countries
The European Union’s executive branch announced new rules for plastic waste—including a ban on some exports to poorer countries—that will take effect on January 1.
World’s 3rd-largest grocery chain eliminates 20 million single-use plastic wrappings
The U.K.’s Tesco has switched to recycled cardboard for packaging of holiday lights, crackers, pudding, cards, and more.
Ocean Cleanup launches plan to clean up plastic in the world’s most polluted rivers
The company is now preparing to scale up production of the Interceptor as it tries to reach its stated goal of cleaning up the world’s 1000 most polluting rivers.
Chinese island province of Hainan bans all disposable plastics
Plastic polymer food containers, forks, drink cups, knives, straws, plastic bags, packaging bags, and other items that are not biodegradable are no longer allowed to be sold at major establishments like supermarkets, hospitals, government and state-owned buildings like schools, and tourist attractions.
Canada to ban single-use plastic bags, straws, and cutlery in 2021
Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced the next steps in the government’s plan to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030, including a ban on single-use plastic items such as plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and more next year.
New Jersey to pass nation’s most comprehensive single-use plastics ban
Once signed into law by Governor Philip Murphy, the ban would go into effect in 18 months, giving businesses the time to adapt to the new policies. In addition to plastic bags and containers, the bill also bans paper bags from grocery stores and makes plastic straws available only upon request at restaurants.
Scientists create a ‘super enzyme’ that breaks down plastic six times faster
The super enzyme could have major benefits for recycling PET, which is the most common thermoplastic used in single-use drinks bottles and clothing. PET takes hundreds of years to degrade in the environment.
South Australia becomes first Australian state to ban single-use plastics
The law, which is expected to come into force in 2021, means that selling, supplying or distributing a “prohibited plastic product” will be illegal. The list of banned items includes plastic straws, cutlery, and drink stirrers, as well as polystyrene cups, bowls, plates, and clamshell containers.
Use of plastic bags in England drops by 95% since 2015
Use of plastic carrier bags in England has continued to fall – by 59% in the last year alone – since the introduction of the 5p charge. Sales of single-use plastic bags have dropped by 95% in England’s supermarkets since the charge was introduced in October 2015.