Ireland: Lawmakers in the Irish Green Party have proposed a container deposit system as part of a waste reduction bill, which would also phase in a ban on plastic food-service packaging that is not accepted for recycling. The Irish Times reports lawmakers believe 89 percent of the country’s population would support a container deposit for bottles and cans.
United Kingdom: The Co-op Group, a large collection of member-owned food stores and other retail businesses, is developing a new type of plastic film in order to help make its products more recyclable. In a press release, the organization describes the new film as a “multi-layer film with integral sealing capabilities,” which “enables plastics lidding film to be heat-sealed directly to the packaging tray through integral capabilities within the material.”
Pakistan: Three recycling plants in Islamabad have been shuttered after authorities found they were recycling hospital waste to produce food-service products.The Express Tribune reports on the raid, which comes on the heels of a similar crackdown in China.
Europe: Four countries in the European Union have yet to enact rules to help reduce the prevalence of single-use plastic bags, and the governing body has set an ultimatum. EUWID Recycling and Waste Management writes that Greece, Italy, Poland and Cyprus were required to have the rules in place last November, and will be given two more months before the European Commission considers legal action.
