BERLIN – German lawmakers approved legislation Thursday banning disposable plastic products such as straws, cutlery and cotton buds that are polluting the world’s oceans.
The new law passed by Germany’s lower house of parliament will halt the sale of certain single-use plastics by July 2021.
The move brings Germany in line with its European commitments after the EU last year agreed to place tough new restrictions on certain plastic items.
The EU legislation bans around a dozen disposable plastic products for which environmentally friendly alternatives exist, including drink stirrers, chopsticks and plates.
According to the EU Commission, the products prohibited under the law represent 70 percent of the waste that pours into oceans, posing a threat to wildlife and fisheries.(AFP)
