“Away with this disposable society”

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The Federal environment Minister calls for an end to the disposable consumption. A few steps has guided them now in the way. Among other things: A ban on plastic bags. Yet Germany is anything other than a role model.

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Schulze: “plastic flood curb”

It seems to be in Trend, that Minister in Germany to bring to your press conferences illustrative material. Minister of transport, Scheuer is just to see his files. He wants to toll the transparency in the car – discussion demonstrate. The Federal environment Minister, Svenja Schulze (SPD) has brought to the press conference…a bunch of plastic garbage.

The Minister brought in a bunch of garbage to the press conference

That’s the garbage to her:. Too much of it is made of plastic, the oceans in the world, and thus in many fish stomachs, only to reappear. To change the Minister now. Step 1: plastic bags are to be made as soon as possible prohibited. You have to be able to replace, through voluntary agreements with the trade since 2016, two-thirds of plastic bags. The rich do not but. Long had spoken to the Minister against such a ban, and pointed out that the voluntary measures would work quite well. Now, you calls for a ban.

Why? “I think this is an important step and a Symbol: the way with this disposable society. Stop doing things just once use and then throw away. This can’t go on,” says Schulze.

Now wants Germany to ban: plastic bags

Germany is lagging behind in the world

Elsewhere, the long of the law. Now the world’s 61 countries have banned the manufacture and Import of plastic bags. The beginning of 2002, Bangladesh has made already. Almost ten million plastic bags were thrown away every day. The plastic trash thrown everywhere, clogged drains and water courses. Polluted drinking water and Flooding were the result.

A Problem that also led India to more and more regions in the use of disposable plastic was banned. In New Delhi, was issued in 2009, a statutory scheme for thin plastic bags, which was extended in 2012. Since 2017 is generally not a disposable plastic may be used.

In Africa, Rwanda was the first country, in 2008, plastic bags ban. In the case of offences of money to threaten and even imprisonment. Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, and South Africa followed. Meanwhile, also in Tanzania, the population of fifth largest country of the continent has enacted a ban. Manufacturers of plastic bags, a fine of up to one billion Tanzanian shillings (approximately 390,000 euros) or two years imprisonment.

Starting in 2021 in the EU are prohibited: plastic straws

More than just a Symbol

In Germany must listen to the Minister of the environment also criticism. From the ranks of her coalition partner, the conservative Union, argues that incentives are better than bans. Others say that a plastic bag ban would not go beyond the mere symbol function in addition to, finally, plastic bags accounted for only one percent of the total plastic waste. Schulze does not want to keep it that way: “It is a small step, but such symbols are important. I am also trading in the conversation. I want there to be less plastic in the supermarket”.

It should be a start for a more comprehensive catalogue of measures. Against single-use plastic produce enhanced, it has also been decided by the EU. The member States adopted in may 2019, an EU-disposable plastic Directive, which aims to ban disposable plastic products from 2021. This includes products for which there are Alternatives from other materials. For example, straws, plastic plates and plastic Cutlery. Within two years, the EU must be implemented in national law.

Two-thirds of the waste in public garbage cans make disposable products

The manufacturer should be taken in responsibility

It should not remain in the Prohibited as an Instrument. “We see that we always have containers of more plastic in our Parks, in the cities, in the public waste. This is a big Problem,” says Schulze. The Association of municipal enterprises on the assumption that one-way packaging represent approximately two-thirds of the waste ends up in garbage cans, Parks, or gullies, or road sweepers collected. For the cleaning not the manufacturer of the plastic products have to pay the municipalities. That should change now. The Minister of the environment announced that the company, the Fast-Food packaging, disposable beverage cups, plastic bags and cigarette filters, to produce, to contribute in the future to the cleaning and cost of disposal in the public space.

The goal: a process of rethinking in the minds of the people. It had to be every single absolutely clear that it can’t go on like this with the plastic waste.