Fresh Action Plan Aims to Eliminate Plastic Waste by 2025

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The ruling party in New Zealand announced new action plan to reduce single-use and hard-to-recycle by 2025. It is part of efforts to remove plastic rubbish from oceans and environment. At the same time, it declared $50 million dollar funding for domestic manufacturing plants within the country to boost development of alternatives.

Announcing the decision, Jacinda Ardern, Leader, Labour Party, noted that plastics account for more than 60% of all waste found in beaches, causing harm to marine life. By implementing the ban on single-use plastics bag, the country has been able to remove at least 1 billion bags from the environment. Fewer plastic bags are now found on beaches, she said.

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The action plan proposes to phase out various single use and hard to recycle plastic items such as drink stirrers, cutlery, some cups and lids, produce bags and straws by 2025. The proposed Plastics Innovation Fund would provide grants and loans in support of local projects that develop sustainable and affordable substitutes to plastic products.

The country has already allocated $124 million towards establishing high-tech recycling plants and modernizing existing facilities. This will not only create hundreds of jobs, but provide big boost to domestic recycling, thereby reducing exports of recyclables to countries.