From July 1, 2024, new regulations introduced by the European Union will come into force, obliging producers to attach caps to plastic bottles. Now consumers are wondering what to do if the cap is torn off or what awaits charity collections during which plastic caps are collected.
New EU regulation. What next with the caps that are attached to plastic bottles?
The Ministry of Climate and Environment announced that it would not prohibit charity collections involving the collection of plastic caps. According to the ministry, such actions can be continued, but producers must still adapt to the new regulations that require caps to be attached to packaging, he said. “If, however, the consumer decides to tear off the cap and donate it as part of a charity collection, no one forbids him from doing so,” the ministry said in a response to .
The Ministry also dispelled doubts related to information campaigns. According to the ministry, “the obligation is addressed to those who market beverages (producers, importers), not directly to consumers,” and they should also inform consumers about the proper handling of packaging with caps.
Caps attached to packaging. It’s about recycling correctly
The regulations related to attaching caps to plastic and cardboard packaging are part of the so-called plastic directive. Thanks to it, the EU wanted to increase the efficiency of recycling. This solution is intended to ensure that caps are not lost by sorting machines during the further recycling process. We should therefore make sure that the cap does not detach from the packaging. However, if this happens, it should be screwed down and thrown into an appropriate container along with the rest of the packaging.
The new regulations turn out to be very costly for producers. Mlekpol, one of the Polish milk producers, estimates that the company has already spent PLN 30 million on integrated caps. – We had to modernize the machines, some had to be completely replaced. Maybe the intention is right, but no one has effectively explained the assumptions of this regulation – said Tadeusz Mroczkowski, president of Mlekpol, quoted by .
Source: Gazeta
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