WWF: Disappointing implementation of single-use plastics law

WWF Greece characterizes our country’s performance in implementing the provisions of the single-use plastics law as disappointing, according to its first report on the law’s implementation process, which it publishes today.

“Laws alone are not enough to curb plastic pollution. If they are not accompanied by good implementation and substantial and systemic controls, laws are an empty letter. If the government still sees plastic pollution as a problem, then the time has come to properly implement the law it enacted and to make it clear that there will be no more discounts”, says Achilleas Pletharas, head of WWF Greece’s footprint reduction programs.

According to WWF: The only positive point recorded by the report is the implementation of some regulations of the law on plastic bottles.

In particular, as the organization made known, the most problematic points in the implementation of the law have to do with the fact that plastic straws still flood the market, there is poor implementation of the regulations for plastic cups and food containers, while public taps are still species to disappear in almost all large urban centers since their expansion has not progressed sufficiently. In addition, the methods of creating a warranty return system for plastic bottles are highly problematic.

In parallel with the above report, WWF Greece is also publishing today the new updated version of the “Plastic Replacement and Recycling Guide”. Through the Guide, citizens can be informed about the recyclability or non-recyclability of single-use plastics flooding the market, as well as learn more about replacing these items with other alternatives or products.
According to the organization: “Plastic pollution is a major global threat to the marine and terrestrial environment. In particular, 8 million tons of plastics leak into the oceans every year. It is estimated, in fact, that 11,500 tons of plastics end up in the Greek seas alone. The consumption of single-use plastics is increasing more and more, which led the EU to issue in 2019 a directive to reduce the impact of plastic pollution (EU 2019/904).

With a law issued in October 2020 (n. 4736/2020), Greece became one of the first EU countries to incorporate the directive in question into national law, positively surprising. The law, having as its main objective the gradual reduction of plastic pollution, provides a series of regulations for the abolition of certain problematic single-use plastics, the limitation of a series of other plastic products and the rational management of the resulting plastic waste.

SOURCE: AMPE