Plastic Pollution – Governmental Frameworks in Singapore and France

11/30/20235 min read

white spoon
white spoon

SINGAPORE

Singapore generated 868,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2020, of which only 4% was recycled (Fu 2021).

Under the Zero Waste Master Plan of 2019, the government intends to reduce the amount of waste diverted to landfill per capita by 30% by the year 2030, as well as to attain a 70% overall recycling rate during the same timeframe (MEWR & NEA 2019). The Singapore Green Plan 2030, a multi-ministry initiative launched in 2021, aims to cut down on the amount of waste to landfill per capita per day by 20% before 2026 (SG Green Plan).

In 2019, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was amended to include contaminated, mixed, or non-recyclable plastics (UNEP). The following year, in accordance with Singapore’s obligations under the Convention, the Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import, and Transit) Act) of Singapore was amended to require exporters of the said categories of plastic to obtain consent from recipient countries (Allen & Gledhill 2020).

Under the Resource Sustainability Act of 2019, since 2020, producers of packaged products and supermarkets have been subject to mandatory packaging reporting requirements (MEWR and NEA 2019). The same Act will also provide for extended producer responsibility for packaging, including plastics, by 2025 (MEWR and NEA 2019).

The National Environment Agency has commissioned the construction of a pilot mechanical and biological treatment facility for the recovery and treatment of recyclables, including plastics, into solid recovered fuel, with minimal residue requiring disposal (Jinjiang Environment 2018; MEWR and NEA 2019). The NEA also commissioned the construction, completed in 2021, of Kranji Green, a multi-storey recycling facility to accommodate recyclers of various materials including plastic (Boustead; JTC; MEWR and NEA 2019).

There are also plans to establish a beverage container return scheme for plastic waste (Fu 2021).

FRANCE

The European Union Directive 2019/904 of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (“EU Directive 2019/904”) requires member states to “take the necessary measures to achieve an ambitious and sustained reduction in the consumption of [annexed] single-use plastic products”, which measures “shall achieve a measurable quantitative reduction in the consumption of the [annexed] single-use plastic products... on the territory of the Member State by 2026 compared to 2022” (Article 4(1), EU Directive 2019/904). The annexed products comprise beverage cups, covers, and lids, as well as food containers (Part A of the Annex to EU Directive 2019/904).

Member states are also forbidden from marketing several other types of single-use plastic products and products made of oxo-degradable plastic (Article 5, EU Directive 2019/904). Certain other types of single-use plastic beverage containers bearing plastic caps or lids may only be marketed if those caps and lids are not detached during use (Article 6, EU Directive 2019/904). Manufacturers and producers of certain single-use plastic products must ensure that those products display clear markings and information on waste management (Article 7(1), EU Directive 2019/904). The Directive introduces an extended producer responsibility scheme for various single-use plastic products, essentially requiring producers to bear the monetary cost of public outreach, waste collection, and litter management and treatment (Article 8(1) and (2), EU Directive 2019/904).

In France, the anti-waste for a circular economy law (‘Loi anti-gaspillage pour une économie circulaire’) (the “AGEC Law”), was enacted in 2020 with the primary objective of ending all forms of waste (Service-Public FR 2023) and specifically all disposable plastic by 2040 (MTE 2020).

Since the promulgation of the AGEC Law, France has put in place regulations banning single-use plastics in certain products and packaging, mandating producer disclosure on sorting and sustainability, and implementing second-life and take-back programs (Service-Public FR 2023).

The main measures affecting plastics include:-

Food & beverage industry

  • Ban on single-use plastics in cups, plates, and cotton buds since 2020 (MTE 2020).

  • Ban on single-use plastics in straws, cutlery, and stirrers since 2021 (MTE 2020).

  • Ban on service of food in expanded polystyrene since 2021 (MTE 2020).

  • Since 1 January 2023, fast food restaurants have been required to replace disposable tableware with reusable equivalents (MTE 2020).

  • Ban on supplying plastic toys with food menus since 2022 (MTE 2020).

  • Bars and restaurants must offer customers free drinking water, if requested, since 2022 (MTE 2020).

Products and Packaging

  • Ban on claims of biodegradability of product or packaging (MTE 2020).

  • Ban on marketing tea bags made of non-biodegradable plastic since 2022 (MTE 2020)

  • Ban on importing and manufacturing single-use plastic bags into and within French national territory since 2021 (MTE 2020).

  • Prohibition of trademarks and labels on fruits and vegetables, unless made of compostable material, since 2022 (MTE 2020).

  • Installation of selective sorting bins at supermarket check-out areas for packaging waste. Since 2021. (MTE 2020).

Other measures affecting industry and commerce

  • New washing machines (household and professional) to be equipped with plastic microfibre filter as of 1 January 2025 (MTE 2020).

  • Event sponsors prohibited from requiring their bottles to be distributed at events since 2022 (MTE 2020).

  • Starting between 2023 and 2025, shippers will be prohibited from using plastic wrap in the transportation of press and advertising publications (MTE 2020).

  • Manufacturers of pre-soaked disposable sanitary wipes will be subject to a polluter-pay scheme commencing 1 January 2024 (MTE 2020)

Measures impacting consumers

  • Simplification of sorting rules and modernisation of sorting centres (MTE 2020).

  • Mixed deposit system for recycling and reuse (MTE 2020).

  • Ban on use of plastic confetti since 2021 (MTE 2020).

  • Promoting bulk purchases and consumer's use of own containers at retail stores since 2021 (MTE 2020).

Measures impacting public institutions

  • Institutions open to the public must provide drinking water fountains, and are prohibited from distributing free plastic bottles, since 2022 (MTE 2020)

  • Ban on use of plastic containers in preparation of food for children in hospitals, as of 1 January 2025 (MTE 2020)

References: