<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/29/eu-will-force-cosmetic-companies-to-pay-to-reduce-microplastic-pollution>
"Beauty companies will have to pay more to clean up micropollutants after EU
negotiators struck a new deal to treat sewage.
Under draft rules that follow the “polluter pays principle”, companies that
sell medicines and cosmetics will have to cover at least 80% of the extra costs
needed to get rid of tiny pollutants that are dirtying urban wastewater.
Governments will pay the rest, members of the bloc said, in an effort to
prevent vital products from becoming too expensive or scarce.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, the bloc’s environment commissioner, said the steps
would safeguard citizens from harmful discharges of pharmaceuticals and
cosmetics that end up in water bodies. “This will make our water cleaner and
protect our health.”
The rules, which have been agreed by the European parliament and council of the
EU but not yet formally adopted, bulk up requirements to remove nutrients from
water and set new standards for micropollutants. They also broaden the areas
covered by the law.
By 2035 EU member states will have to remove organic matter from urban
wastewater before releasing it into the environment in all communities with
more than 1,000 people. By 2045 they will have to remove nitrogen and
phosphorus in all treatment plants covering more than 10,000 people, if there
is a risk to the environment or health. They will also have to add an extra
step to remove a “broad spectrum” of micropollutants, according to the European
parliament.
Governments will also have to monitor sewage for microplastics, “forever
chemical” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and key health indicators
like antimicrobial resistance.
But member states have been slow to enforce existing rules to treat sewage.
Last month, the European Commission referred Spain to the European court of
justice for failing to comply with existing wastewater rules in 225
communities."
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-obamacare-ocean-conservation-ireland-pandas/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
