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Dear Reader,
| This week, an analysis by the Forever Lobbying Project revealed the UK and Europe could spend trillions cleaning up toxic PFAS found in plastics that pollute waterways, the environment, and landfills. The US Environmental Protection Agency is launching a review into dangerous plastic chemicals, including those responsible for a devastating train fire. Sweden is increasing the deposit for its bottle return scheme to bolster recycling rates.TheNational Environment Agency in Singapore revealed the majority of plastic waste on the country’s recreational beaches comes from sea-based sources. Finally, Jamacia has rolled out its latest plastic ban tackling single-use food containers. |
As always, we hope you enjoy reading.
John Higginson
Editor-in-Chief
Plastic Free Post
Toxic PFAS pollution clean-up could top £1.6tn in UK and Europe
| The cost of cleaning up toxic forever chemical pollution could reach more than £1.6tn across the UK and Europe over a 20-year period, an annual bill of £84bn, a year-long investigation by the Forever Lobbying Project has revealed. PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” are a family of more than 10,000 human-made substances often used in plastic. To clean up existing legacy pollution in the UK, analysis has found it will cost an estimated £428m every year for the next 20 years. This would cover remediating contaminated soils, landfill leachate and treating five per cent of the drinking water in large water supply zones. |
Read more here.
US EPA launches formal review of five toxic plastic chemicals
| The US Environmental Protection Agency is launching a formal review of five highly toxic plastic chemicals, including vinyl chloride, the notorious compound at the centre of the East Palestine, Ohio, train wreck fire. The move could lead to strong limits or bans on the substances. Vinyl chloride is most commonly used in PVC pipe and packaging production but is also cancerous and highly flammable. For about 50 years, the federal government has considered limits on the substance, but industry has thwarted most regulatory efforts, hidden the substances’ risks and is already mobilising against the new review. |
Read more here.
Sweden to raise deposits on beverage containers
| Returpack, the company overseeing the Swedish deposit return scheme (DRS), is set to increase the deposit fees on both polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and aluminium beverage containers to bolster recycling rates across the country. In 2023, the country achieved an 88.5 per cent deposit rate, with almost three billion packages re-entering the recycling loop. Projections for 2024 are set to surpass this figure, with the DRS aiming to maintain a rate above 90 per cent. Last year, the Swedish DRS contributed to a saving of 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equating to the annual output of a mid-sized Swedish city. |
Read more here.
Majority of plastic on Singapore’s beaches originates from offshore sources
| A study by the country’s National Environment Agency revealed that 97 per cent of the plastic waste on Singapore’s recreational beaches comes from sea-based sources, such as ships, or was transported across boundaries by marine currents. Researchers believe that plastic particles smaller than five mm however mostly come from larger post-consumer plastic products, instead of being generated during the manufacturing process. Singapore has been working to tackle plastic pollution and last year implemented a change for disposable carrier bags, with a beverage container return scheme also slated to be introduced in April 2026. |
Read more here.
Jamaica’s ban on single-use plastic food containers takes effect
| Jamaica’s latest plastic ban prohibits the importation, distribution, manufacturing, and sale of food boxes made wholly or partially from polyethylene, polypropylene, or polylactic acid to tackle single-use plastic pollution on the island. Since 2019, the Jamaican government has implemented a series of bans on single-use plastics, including plastic bags, plastic drinking straws and plastic straws attached to juice boxes and drink pouches. The next ban begins in July, outlawing the importation, manufacture, sale, and use of cosmetic and personal care products containing plastic microbeads or microplastics. |
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