Germany bans plastic bags
The German government has decided to ban plastic bags, including those made from recycled plastic. The only exception will be the thin bags used for fruits and vegetables. Germany is taking the battle against...
Tagged: ban
EU sees opportunities for circular economy in plastic waste trade
Exporting plastic waste is becoming increasingly difficult, but this opens new opportunities for reusing and recycling plastic, says the European Environment Agency. More and more plastic packaging waste is being recycled each year. Up...
Amsterdam to ban all gas and diesel cars
The city of Amsterdam will ban all gas and diesel cars from its streets as of 2030. Public transport and taxis will have to go all-electric from 2025. Amsterdam has unveiled the Clean Air...
UK is worst violator of e-waste exports, says watchdog group
Many EU countries are illegally exporting electronic waste to Africa and Asia, according to a two-year study by the global environmental watchdog organisation Basel Action Network (BAN). BAN has released the findings of a...
Landmark fishing ban protects Arctic high seas
Last week, the European Union, Canada, China, Denmark, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea and the US signed a historic international agreement banning unregulated commercial fishing in the Arctic high seas. Together, they represent...
Disney joins plastic straw ban
Disney is the latest American company to ban plastic straws, plastic stirrers and similar products at its theme parks to curb pollution. John Dyer reports from Boston. “Eliminating plastic straws and other plastic items...
EU proposes ban on drinking straws and other single-use plastics
The European Commission is recommending a ban on single-use plastics, such as cutlery, food containers and drink cups. The announcement is part of Brussels efforts to reduce marine litter. The European Commission is proposing...
EU bans bee-harming pesticides
EU member states have agreed to ban insecticides that are known to be harmful to wild and honeybees from all fields. The ban is expected to come into force by the end of 2018....
Seattle bans plastic straws
Beginning in July, customers in Seattle will have to choose between a biodegradable paper straw or go without. The ban comes on the heels of the successful “Strawless in Seattle” campaign. The city of...
New Zealand restricts offshore oil drilling
New Zealand hopes to become CO2-neutral in the coming decades. On Thursday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the first step in this direction: no more permits for new offshore oil exploration will be granted....
Sweden steps up fight against microplastics
Sweden’s red-green government is going ahead with a ban on the sale of microplastics in cosmetics because of their harmful environmental impact. The country is considering further bans. André Anwar reports from Stockholm. You...
UK microbead ban comes into effect
One of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads came into force on Tuesday in the UK. The ban targets rinse-off products such as face scrubs, toothpastes and shower gels. The UK’s environment minister Thérèse...
Paris moves to replace petrol and diesel engines
The municipal government of Paris wants to rid the city’s streets of diesel cars by 2024, and no petrol ones either come 2030. But instead of pursuing a ban, the government aims to encourage...
Kenya bans plastic bags, offenders face up to 4 years prison
Kenya has introduced the world’s toughest ban on plastic bags as it steps up the fight against pollution. Offenders could face fines of up to $38,000 or four years in jail. It’s being touted...
UK to ban sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040
The British government announced on Wednesday that it will end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040 in a bid to tackle air pollution. France announced a similar ban earlier this month....
Delhi bans disposable plastics
India’s capital city has banned the use of all types of disposable plastics throughout the national capital region. India is among the top plastic polluters in the world. While air pollution remains a major problem...
Oslo diesel car ban causes chaos
Oslo reacted to the heavy winter smog by banning private diesel cars from the city’s streets on Tuesday for the first time in its history. Drivers are in an uproar because diesel cars make...
China bans domestic ivory trade
China announced on 30 December 2016 that it would close down its domestic ivory trade by the end of 2017, bringing an end to the world’s largest legal ivory market. Conservationists and wildlife advocates...
UK government plans to ban plastic microbeads
The UK government has announced that it plans to ban microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. The tiny plastic beads are a major source of marine pollution and a hazard to sea life....
San Francisco bans polystyrene
The city of San Francisco has enacted one of the broadest bans on polystyrene. To-go coffee cups, food containers and everything else made out of the cheap insulating foam including packing peanuts will no...
