Plastics treaty
A new coalition of cities and local governments from around the world wants the plastics treaty to include strong rules for extended producer responsibility and to address human health impacts of plastic pollution.
A coalition of non-profit groups running curbside recycling programs in U.S. cities is telling plastics treaty negotiators that some plastics packaging, like flexibles, are problematic for recycling.
Disputes over production cuts and chemical toxicity were the public face of the last round of plastics treaty talks in Busan, South Korea. But some observers point to signs of agreement in other areas.
It shouldn't be a surprise that representatives of plastics companies and chemical suppliers have been active in discussions about the global plastics treaty. But just how many people were there from the plastics industry? That's up for debate.
Faced with the possibility that the talks would collapse, negotiators decided to try to salvage them and schedule another, potentially last round, in 2025.
As global plastics treaty talks enter their final hours, the European Union joins other countries in vow to push for a meaningful agreement addressing plastics production limits, chemicals of concern and problematic products.
The United States, the European Union and Japan have joined forces to advocate for the plastics treaty to include fees on virgin resin. Earlier, Ghana made a stronger proposal.
More than 85 nations, including all 27 members of the European Union, are making a last-minute push to include caps on plastics production in any deal.
One point of agreement between plastics industry groups and environmental organizations is that neither side likes a U.S. proposal put forward at the global treaty talks related to chemicals and "problematic" plastics.
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