From 2021, the sale of single-use plastic items will be banned in Europe, including cutlery, cotton buds, plates, straws, drink stirrers and balloon sticks.

Members of the European Parliament – 560 votes in favour, 35 against and 28 abstentions – confirmed their support for the Commission's proposal and added oxo-degradable plastic items, such as bags or packaging and expanded polystyrene fast-food containers, to the list of banned plastics.

"This legislation will reduce environmental damage of 22 billion euros, the estimated cost of plastic pollution in Europe up to 2030. Europe now has a legislative model to defend and promote at international level, given the global nature of the problem of marine pollution caused by plastics. This is essential for the planet," said rapporteur Frédérique Ries.

Recycling 90% of plastic bottles

According to the European Commission, more than 80 per cent of marine litter consists of plastic. The products subject to the Commission and European Parliament measures account for 70 per cent of all marine litter.

By 2025, member states will have to reduce consumption of plastic products for which no alternatives currently exist by 25 per cent — these include single-use boxes for burgers and sandwiches and food containers for fruit and vegetables, desserts or ice cream. By 2029, drinks bottles will have to be collected separately and recycled at a rate of 90 per cent. In addition, plastic bottles will have to contain at least 25 per cent recycled content by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030. The new rules also establish mandatory labelling requirements providing information on the environmental impact of cigarette filters, wet wipes and sanitary towels.

Member states should draw up national plans to encourage the use of products suited to multiple use, reuse and recycling.

Cigarette butts and lost fishing gear in the crosshairs

The agreement strengthens the application of the "polluter pays" principle by introducing extended producer responsibility. Tobacco manufacturers will have to bear the waste collection costs for these products, including transport, treatment and collection. The same applies to manufacturers of fishing gear containing plastic, who will have to contribute to meeting the recycling target.

A cigarette butt can pollute between 500 and 1,000 litres of water and, if dropped on the street, can take up to twelve years to disintegrate. Parliament has therefore decided to reduce cigarette butts by 50 per cent by 2025 and by 80 per cent by 2030.

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Another long-standing problem is fishing gear lost or abandoned at sea, such as nets, fishing lines or ropes, which account for 27 per cent of the litter found on European beaches. Member states should ensure that at least 50 per cent of this is collected each year, with a recycling target of at least 15 per cent by 2025.