EP paves the way for com­postable plastic bags

François de Bie, Chair­man of European Bioplastics, com­men­ted: ​“We are very glad to see pro­vi­sions that acknow­ledge the import­ant con­tri­bu­tion that bio­de­grad­able and com­postable plastic bags can make to enhanced biowaste col­lec­tion across the EU. Bio­de­grad­able bags that are EN13432 com­pli­ant can help Mem­ber States to reduce land­filling by divert­ing biowaste from land­fill to organ­ic recyc­ling. We now call on the Coun­cil of the European Uni­on to sup­port the pro­vi­sions taken up by the Par­lia­ment and recog­nise the value that bio­de­grad­able plastic bags offer to European soci­ety”. The report exempts very light­weight car­ri­er bags (below 10 micron thick­ness) from the scope of any meas­ures and requires their pro­gress­ive replace­ment with bio­de­grad­able and com­postable bags. It also allows Mem­ber States with exist­ing sep­ar­ate col­lec­tion of biowaste to reduce the price of bio­de­grad­able and com­postable light­weight car­ri­er bags by up to 50 per­cent. Source: European Bioplastics