Czech Republic to phase out plastic straws, cutlery, plates, and more by 2021

Plastic is a big source of waste in the country, and the country consumes tens of millions of products each year.

According the the Ministry of Environment, more than 300 million plastic straws, 20 million plastic plates, 60 million plastic sets of cutlery and 40 million food containers are sold each year in the Czech Republic.

Plastic cotton swabs, plastic cutlery, plastic plates and plastic straws should be completely phased out of the market by July 2021. The ban also applies to select disposable plastic products, including products made of bioplastic, all products made of oxo-degradable plastics, disposable plastic food and drink containers and polystyrene cups.

However, resale of existing products will still be possible until the stock is sold out.

The new law extends on a previous agreement among EU Member States which stated that by 2025, plastic bottles will have to be made with at least a quarter of recycled plastic. By 2030, the bottles should be made with 30 percent recycled plastic.

The new law was introduced by the Minister of the Environment Richard Brabec (YES) this week, and has wide-ranging implications, particularly for manufacturers.

Starting in July 2024, manufacturers will have to attach a cap or lid to the container for plastic or composite beverage containers with a volume of up to three liters.

In addition, manufacturers will also have to inform consumers that the product is made of plastic and how the consumer should handle the product when they are done with it. The label will apply to a much wider section of the market: sanitary napkins, tampons and their applicators, wet wipes, tobacco products with filters and more. The European Commission plans of issuing further details for how to market these products in light of new restrictions.

Manufacturers will also have an obligation to change consumer behavior when it comes to consuming food containers and drinking cups. Starting in 2023, EU member states will have to report the amount of plastic products consumed.

Manufacturers will have an added responsibility to contribute financially to cleaning the waste their products create. Tobacco producers will have to contribute to the cost of cleaning the waste starting in 2023 and manufacturers of wet wipes and balloons will have to start contributing the following year.

Starting in July 2021, manufacturers will have to inform consumers about the availability of alternative products and recycling. The regulation applies to food and beverage containers of up to 3 liters, plus bags and ready-to-eat packed food, beverage cups, plastic bags, wet wipes, tobacco products with filters and more.