NEW ZEALAND – The government of New Zealand has officially implemented its ban on thin plastic bags, as part of its wider initiative to minimize the use of single-use plastics.
The legislation, which came into effect on July 1, will include recyclable plastic, biodegradable plastic and plant-based or compostable plastic and will extend to plastic straws and cutlery.
Under the new regulation, plastic packaging must be part of the original packaging and not added later. For example, bags of salad greens, apples, potatoes, sugar snap peas, or herbs are exempt from the ban.
Non-compliance with the ban can lead to fines of up to NZ$100,000 (US$61,720) per offense, according to the countries’ environmental ministry.
Authorities from the country say that each New Zealander currently generates over three-quarter metric tonnes of waste yearly. Estimating the ban will remove 150 million plastic produce bags from circulation each year.
“New Zealand produces too much waste, too much plastic waste,” says Rachel Brooking, Associate Environment Minister.
Brooking highlighted that the country has saved more than one billion plastic bags from entering landfill since the government imposed a ban on thicker bags in 2019.
Brooking added: “It is still worth doing this, but we really want to reduce single-use anything packaging. So, we want people to be bringing their own bags, and supermarkets are selling reusable produce bags.”
The latest move comes as part of the New Zealand government’s previously announced efforts to phase out hard-to-recycle, single-use plastic items from the country by July 2025.
Announced in June 2021, this initiative is being executed in three phases, including the first phase, which took place in October 2022, the second phase taking place this month, and the final phase which is hoped to culminate by July 2025.
As a result of the initial phase, according to New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment, various single-use plastic items, including cotton buds with plastic stems and plastic drink stirrers, have already been banned in the country.
Luxembourg’s grocers implement plastic ban
Elsewhere, Luxembourg has passed a new regulation that requires grocers to reduce plastic packaging in the fruit and vegetable sections.
However, store owners warn that the push for more biodegradable packaging may result in increased food waste.
Belgian-based grocery chain Delhaize expressed concerns that the shelf-life of certain products will be reduced without plastic packaging, leading to a potential increase in food waste.
Luxembourg country director for Delhaize Cédric Gonnet stated that his company’s stores have been unable to find appropriate alternative packaging solutions as required by the law.
Consequently, customers visiting Delhaize stores may notice a scarcity of white pearl onions, butter beans and certain types of endives. While some endives will still be available for sale, the assortment will be significantly reduced.
The new requirement comes a year after the country took a step further by banning single-use plastic packaging for fruits and vegetables.
The new regulations come into effect gradually, with the first stage commencing on June 30. While fruits weighing more than 1.5 kg can still be wrapped in plastic, customers selecting individual items such as peppers or pears will need to use paper bags or other packaging alternatives.
Starting next year, larger supermarkets will be required to have their own recycling centers. By 2025, single-use packaging at festivals and packaging for food deliveries will need to be recyclable.
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