Portugal at the forefront in the directive on single-use plastics
ONE RPA is an alliance of European non-governmental associations representing thousands of groups and citizens from all member states, it is part of the global movement Break Free From Plastic, which brings together more than 2,000 groups and millions of citizens worldwide.
In the document, Portugal, Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland, France, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden are the best positioned countries.
The report was released today by the association Zero, which notes in a statement, citing the document, that parts of the determination have not yet been transposed and says environmental that it is essential to ensure full implementation of the measures that have already been transposed.
“Portugal is a big part of the proposal” of the proposal was no longer proposed for very ambitious measures, for example, reduction of beverage cups and plastic packaging for ‘take away’ (80% reduction by the end of drinks) 2026 and 90 % by 2030, with reference to the values of 2022), says the statement from Zero.
The association also recalls that in the area of ”take away”, the availability of reusable solutions became mandatory as of January 2024.
It is also worth noting that the legislation was also included based on reports that justify the use of plastic packaging, fruits and vegetables from 2023 onwards, with an obligation to pay for non-reusable alternatives.
But Zero adds that in this, as in other legislation, “the great challenge for Portugal is implementation”, and adds: “Ambitious measures in legislation are not new. The new thing will be to be able to implement them effectively”.
Zero says that since 2018, Portugal has had legislation that provides for a return deposit for single use of plastic, glass and metal packaging in January 2022, something that has not happened yet, a clear “sign” of political incapacity. of the previous and current Government to implement a system to fulfill some obligations of the directive”.
Zero notes Portugal’s even more ambitious goals, but notes that it will not necessarily imply a reduction in the total number of cups and containers for other materials in the country, but rather a transition to other materials in the country, but before a transition to other materials. necessarily better materials from the point of view of the environment and even human health”.
The directive was approved in July 2019 by the European Parliament and the Council, with a transposition deadline of two years (July 2021). In Portugal, the directive was a pandemic transposed in September 2021, a delay justified by the Government with that of covid-19.
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