"If we do not take action, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans", said Frederique Ries, a Belgian lawmaker. The European Union will ban plastic consumer items including plates, most cutlery and straws from 2021 to help clean up oceans. The prohibition on single-use plastics approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday in Strasbourg, France, also applies to beverage cups, food containers and cotton bud sticks. EU governments have already signalled support for the ban, making their final approval due on April 15 a formality. The EU estimated the changes will cost the bloc's economy 259 million euros to 695 million euros a year.

Source: Stuff March 27, 2019 23:26 UTC