Spain plans to toughen its fight against plastic pollution
The Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition is preparing a bill to ban the flushing of wet wipes down toilets and the flushing of inflatable balls into nature. The government across the Pyrenees also intends to hold manufacturers accountable, according to the press.
“First it was straws, then a ban on plastic cutlery and cotton buds. Now it's wet wipes and inflatable balls.” In Spain, the government is preparing to toughen its legislation in the fight against plastic pollution, reports ABC newspaper .
The Ministry of Ecological Transition is preparing a new text to ban the flushing of wet wipes down toilets and the "intentional" release of inflatable balloons into the environment, Onda Cero radio reports . These single-use plastic products are among the "most widespread" on beaches in the European Union , notes ABC.
The draft royal decree put forward by the left-wing executive in Spain does not yet mention the “penalties applicable” to the offending citizen, nor “how the control will be carried out,” warns ABC. The text is “in the public consultation phase until June 27,” specifies Onda Cero.
The Madrid station adds that the Spanish government "will require manufacturers of these products to finance the cleaning and management of the waste generated, in accordance with European directives aimed at reducing marine waste." Producers will therefore have to register in a dedicated "register," adds the website ElDiario.es .
Regarding wet wipes, these are “those intended for babies, personal hygiene or household use such as cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, vehicles and eyeglasses,” according to the ABC list.
As for balloons, the conservative daily continues, the bill concerns "those made from synthetic polymers, such as aluminum-coated nylon sheets, or chemically modified natural polymers, such as latex."
Across Spain, "public administrations are paying multi-million euro bills to unblock sewers, repair or replace sanitation and water treatment infrastructure, when giant balls of wet wipes form," laments ElDiario.es. The Spanish Water Supply and Sanitation Association (AEAS) reports "an annual additional cost of 230 million euros" linked to "these blockages," Onda Cero reports.
Balloons, however, often end up reaching the sea and “contribute to the serious plastic pollution of the oceans,” ElDiario.es laments.
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