Analyse the new European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy ("Plastics Strategy").
Ensure that the importance of the role of local and regional authorities in the implementation of this strategy is taken into account.
Support prevention, more specifically through: limiting use, product design, recyclability, innovation and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Support the legislative proposal on single-use plastics.
Highlight the problem of microplastics and the need for further research.
Oppose solutions based on the current generation of biodegradable plastics.
Support improvement in waste collection, specifically separate collection and deposit system, suggesting a harmonised EU level approach for deposit systems.
Support bonuses for exceeding targets and expansion of financial responsibility of producers.
Incentivize the use of recycled content.
Support the use of Green Public Procurements.

THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS



- welcomes the European Commission's Communication on a European Strategy for Plastics in a circular economy, and the challenges and key actions identified, and stresses that ambition is needed to make the transition towards a circular economy and to tackle the societal and environmental challenges;

- stresses the key role and interest of local and regional authorities;

- points out that prevention should be the first priority in line with the EU waste hierarchy, argues that prevention starts with limiting the use of plastics and through product design, advocates recyclability of all products by 2025, supports innovation to move away from fossil-based plastics and recalls the important role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in promoting eco-design arguing that EPR legislation therefore needs to include the responsibility for eco-design;

- supports the legislative proposal on single-use plastics;

- highlights the problem of microplastics advocating further research and calls for a ban on oxo-degradable plastics and intentionally added microplastics except for products necessary for health;

- recognizes that the current generation of biodegradable plastics are not an answer because of the limits to their biodegradability, stresses the need for better definitions and/or standards;

- advocates effective separate collection focused on plastics as a material rather than as a product, acknowledges the achievements of deposit systems and suggests an harmonised EU level approach;

- regarding target-setting proposes to examine the introduction of bonuses when targets are exceeded and the expansion of the financial responsibility of producers to the full cost of waste management of their products;

- believes in incentives for use of recycled content, removal of incentives for fossil fuels, financial responsibility of producers or importers for CO2 emissions reduction and a minimum of 50% recyclates in new plastics by 2025;

- stresses the potential of Green Public Procurements in plastic waste prevention.