California seems to want to step up a gear in the field of depollution. The American State has adopted a law, adopted this week by Californian elected officials and ratified, Thursday, June 30, by its governor, Gavin Newsom, which stipulates that at least 30% of plastic packaging sold or used in this State must be recyclable by 2028, and at least 65% by 1is January 2032. The incineration or conversion of this waste into fuel is not an accepted form of recycling.
The law also tackles the pollution of expanded polystyrene food packaging, frequently used in the United States in take-out restaurants, for cups or dishes. Unless producers are able to prove that at least 25% of this packaging is recyclable by 2025, it will no longer be able to be used in the state at all. For the defenders of the environment, this objective is impossible to achieve, which amounts to a “de facto prohibition” polystyrene food packaging.
“California will no longer tolerate this waste that fills our waterways and makes it difficult for us to breathe. We hold polluters accountable and reduce plastic at the source”Governor Newsom said Thursday in the statement announcing the ratification of this law.
Only 85% of plastic waste escapes recycling
The new Californian law does not just lay down rules for recycling, it makes manufacturers directly responsible for the implementation and financing of these measures. Those who wish to sell plastic packaging in California will thus be required to collectively raise 5 billion dollars (nearly 4.8 billion euros) over ten years to finance these efforts and contribute to the depollution of the areas most affected by this pollution. , underlines Mr. Newsom. companies or “entities” who do not comply with this law are liable to a fine of 50,000 dollars (47,000 euros approximately) per day.
“It is the most demanding legislation in the country for the reduction of plastic waste”welcomed the environmental NGO The Nature Conservancy.
In California, a wealthy state that wants to be at the forefront of environmental protection, around 85% of plastic waste escapes recycling. In 2021, this rate was 95% for the whole of the United States (85% ending up in landfills and 10% incinerated, according to a report by the organizations Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics).
“Reducing plastic pollution at the source will also reduce emissions into the air and water and reduce the plastic dumped in our oceans”wrote the NGO Oceana on Twitter.
Calif passes boldest single-use plastic reduction policy in the US! #SB54 will protect our oceans, communities, & c… https://t.co/z5BXXlmFbN
