Plastic particles have been found in humans and can cause cancer. Despite this, in Israel the Minister of Environmental Protection decided not to apply the deposit law to large drinking bottles. Adam Teva and Din submitted a petition to the High Court on the issue and is awaiting the answer of the Minister of Environmental Protection
The European Union recently decided on A series of unprecedented measures to ban the use of plastic. For example, the Union banned the use of disposable, hard utensils, mixing sticks, etc. Also, the Union imposed a 90% plastic bottle collection goal. Whereas in Israel, the Minister of Environmental Protection, Ze'ev Elkin, announced that he is not extending the deposit law to the large beverage bottles.
The European Union's decision comes close to World Health Day, which will take place next week, and following studies that show that the plastic that reaches the environment poses a real threat to public health. The plastic that breaks down into micro plastic particles is already in human excrement and may cause cancer. In Israel, the consumption of single-use plastic is considered relatively high compared to the countries of the world, but the recycling mechanisms are lagging behind, which places Israel at a problematic point in light of the risks of exposure to plastic. For example, just two weeks ago the Minister of Environmental Protection Ze'ev Elkin decided not to apply the deposit law to the large bottles. In this way, about 200 million bottles per year reach the environment, which break down into microplastic particles and eventually into the drinking water and the food that reaches the plates. Another example is the Israeli bag law which only applies to half of the market.
The microplastic particles have chemical substances that may leak out and harm human health. Those substances include, among other things, phthalates and bisphenol A, which may cause hormonal, developmental disorders and even cancer. The chemical properties of microplastics cause it to adsorb pollutants from the water, such as metals, and organic pollutants. The pollutants penetrate the bodies of animals and poison them. Later, other animals feed on small creatures that have been exposed to the pollutants, and thus the contamination moves up the food chain.
Attorney Amit Bracha, CEO of Adam Teva and Din: "Plastic is not only a danger to the environment, but may also be a danger to public health and the price we will pay will be heavy. The studies that came out and the decision of the European Union prove that significant steps must be taken to reduce the use of plastic. It is amazing to see how while the European Union is taking unprecedented steps to reduce the use of plastic, the Minister of Environmental Protection Zeev Elkin decides not to apply the deposit law to the large bottles. Israel is the only country where there is a difference in the recycling laws between large and small bottles and the meaning is that about 200 million bottles that are not recycled will end up in our food and drinking water. We petitioned the High Court on the issue in order to help the public maintain public health and a public space free of plastic bottles."
Among the bans approved by the European Union:
- Ban on specific single-use plastic products, which have alternatives until 2021: disposable utensils (plates, cutlery), straws, mixing sticks, sticks for balloons, and more.
- Imposition of manufacturer's warranty on new products such as fishing equipment, cigarette filters
- Manufacturers are required to prevent the cap from detaching from the product in certain cases
- Imposing a collection target of 90% for the separation at source of beverage containers (meaning that all of Europe will be forced to enact a deposit law for bottles) by 2029 and 77% by 2025. In Israel, as I recall, the target is 77% for small bottles and 55% for large ones.
- Beverage containers will contain at least 30% recycled plastic by 2030.
- Ban on oxo-plastic products: products that are sometimes presented to the public as "degradable" and environmental, but in practice decompose and are harmful (bags of snow partridge and more).
More of the topic in Hayadan:
7 תגובות
Plastic must be outlawed once and for all!
The only way to get rid of the plastic is to send it all to a landfill on the moon because otherwise the earth will find an endless loop of disease and death as a result of the contamination and vulnerability of the plastic in the food chain, air, drinking, etc...
In Europe, diesel and plastic are already being outlawed and we are still debating whether to raise the prices of the bags to over 10 agora (a price which, by the way, has no effect on the customer's decision at the supermarket). Let's hope for the best.
Peace,
I would like to add something about food storage.
In my opinion, extra care should be taken when storing food.
In my understanding, when you store hot cooked food or cooked food that has not completely cooled, in plastic boxes, materials from the plastic boxes may be released and penetrate the food itself.
In my understanding, it is better to use glassware of different sizes even though they are heavier.
For NH, it increases the price of the bottles because the deposit is added to the final price.
From what I know, the opposition has come to this day mainly from the ultra-Orthodox parties that are against price increases.
Does all this also apply to plastic containers and plastic boxes for food storage?
Throw them away only after a considerable time, especially if there is a tear or a hole in them.
It is not convenient to return to glassware, which breaks easily.
More and more countries around the world
are made to reduce the extensive use of plastic
Whereas with us:
Consumer "culture" that is copied from America
Combined with pressure from unscrupulous manufacturers
puts the public in Israel on the same page
with backward countries.
The "policy" of the "honorable" minister is dictated by:
The coalition pressure of certain parties,
When this pressure is combined with holes,
When officials are chosen because of "licking" ability
The result is damage to the environment for humans...
What are the considerations for not applying a deposit to large beverage bottles?