EU takes another step towards banning single-use plastics

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday took another step towards harshly restricting single-use plastic products, with the Council of the EU reaching its consensus.

"Today's decision is an important step towards protecting our environment," said Elisabeth Koestinger, the federal minister of sustainability and tourism of Austria which currently holds the presidency of the Council.

"Plastic waste is polluting our rivers, our beaches and our oceans. This is why we will ban plastic products for which good alternatives exist. And we will make plastic producers pay for cleaning up," she noted.

In late May, the European Commission initiated the EU's legislative procedure on the matter by presenting a draft directive including measures such as a ban on certain plastic products, consumption reduction targets for EU member states in plastics, obligations for producers, as well as labeling requirements.

The European Commission said the aim of the legislation, whose targets include 10 single-use plastic products most often found on European beaches and seas, as well as lost and abandoned fishing gear, was to reduce the amount of harmful plastic litter in oceans and seas, which have been growing ever greater. The targeted items represent 70 percent of all marine litter.

The European Parliament adopted its position on Oct. 24.

According to EU legislative procedures, the European Parliament and the Council review proposals by the Commission and propose amendments.

Now that the Council adopting its own position, legislative efforts may proceed to the next stage, when the Austrian Presidency of the Council begins talks with the European Parliament.