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Plastic garbage lying on the sea beach in Greece.
Milos Bicanski / Getty Images
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Milos Bicanski / Getty Images
Plastic garbage lying on the sea beach in Greece.
Milos Bicanski / Getty Images
The European Parliament voted on the subject of the European Union on the subject of the European Union and on the reduction of ocean waste.
Members of the European Parliament passed the measure overwhelmingly, by a vote of 571 to 53, with 34 abstentions.
Before the legislation goes into effect, the European Parliament must negotiate with the European Council of government ministers of its member states. The council is expected to make a decision on Dec. 16.
"The MEP Frédérique Ries said in a recent release," We have adopted the most ambitious legislation against single-use plastics. "It is essential in order to protect the marine environment and reduce the costs of plastic pollution in Europe, estimated at 22 billion euros by 2030."
The legislation calls for direct bans on single-use plastic items such as "plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks or cotton buds" by 2021.
Consumption of single-use plastics "for which no alternative exists," such as single-use food containers or containers for fruits, vegetables or ice cream, must be reduced by at least 25 percent by 2025, according to the legislation.
Monofilament fishing line, and tobacco waste. 50 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2030.
"Member states should also be sure that at least 50 percent of the population is infected with plastic, which is at least 15 percent by 2025," said the release. "Fishing gear represents 27 percent of Europe's beaches."
Measures including including measures measures measures held held held held – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The European Parliament also seeks to recycle a target of 90 percent of all recyclable drink bottles by 2025.
The measures are the latest in a growing, global movement to reduce single-use plastic waste. According to the European Commission, plastic makes up more than 80 percent of marine litter.
The United Nations announced last year that it was "declaring war" on ocean plastic:
"Each year, more than 8 million tonnes of fish, fishing and marine wildlife, fishing and tourism, and costing at least $ 8 billion in damage to marine ecosystems. is made of plastic.
"According to some estimates, we will not be able to do this, but we will not be able to do this."
The movement to eliminate plastic straws spread across the U.S. and other parts of the world this summer.
Starbucks said it would drop plastic straws worldwide by 2020, and Marriot International said it would be the same by next summer.
McDonald's said 1,300 restaurants in the U.K. and Ireland.
