The proposed regulation was adopted with 71 votes in favour, five against, and one abstention. The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on its own position during the April plenary session before the file is followed up by the new Parliament after European elections take place in June.
The new rules would require all entities carrying out economic activities that involve the handling of plastic pellets to ensure that losses are avoided. Where spills and losses occur, they would be responsible to take immediate action to contain and clean-up those spills and losses.
At least one of those containers allegedly belonged to Poland-based plastic manufacturer Bedeko Europe, who denies the charge, stating ‘no responsibility’ for the incident despite its name appearing on the lost bags.
Rapporteur João Albuquerque, who introduced the bill, said the regulation ‘comes at a time [when] it is increasingly important to raise awareness and take measures against microplastic pollution.
“We have all seen the importance of stricter rules, especially after the disaster that happened in Galicia, but plastic pellet pollution goes beyond that,” Albuquerque said. “I am happy that the political groups were able to reach a consensus and strengthen Parliament’s position regarding the vital step of prevention, which translated into a majority at today’s vote. I hope this position is maintained in the next mandate and that we will be able to negotiate a strong, prevention-based regulation that will lead to a significant decrease of plastic pellet pollution, which poses such a risk for human health and the environment.”
The EU produced and handled around 57 million tonnes of pellets in 2021. Between 52.140 and 184.290 tonnes of pellets are estimated to have been lost to the environment in the continent in 2019.
Source: sustainableplastics.com
