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Date Published: 29/12/2022

ARCHIVED - Spain approves waste law to reduce single-use plastic

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Supermarkets in Spain will also have to offer fruit and veg in bulk and customers may use their own containers

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Spain approves waste law to reduce single-use plastic

Spain approved a royal decree on Packaging and Packaging Waste on Tuesday December 28 with the aim of reducing single-use plastic bottles and containers by 20% in 2030. The law has been welcomed by environmentalists, who have also praised the emphasis on selling fruit and vegetables in bulk to minimise the amount of packaging needed.

Here are the biggest changes:

Fruit and vegetables

Supermarkets and stores must offer the option of buying fresh produce in bulk. The rule won’t apply to fruit and veg that’s already sold in batches of 1.5kg or more or to items that could deteriorate when sold in large quantities.

Larger supermarkets that have a floor area greater than 400 square metres will have to dedicate at least 20% of the space to fresh produce without any packaging, as well as fruit and veg that can be bought in bulk or sold in reusable containers.

This regulations in particular has been heavily criticised by the sector, as it will entail high restructuring costs for many retailers.

Reusable containers

From now on, shoppers will be able to bring their own reusable containers to supermarkets when they are buying food and beverages in bulk. Stores will have to accept these containers unless they are obviously dirty or not fit for purpose.

Single-use cups and glasses

From July 1 next year, the organisers of concerts, festivals and sporting events will have to offer a reusable alternative to single-use plastic cups. Vendors will be allowed to ask for a deposit for the new glasses but they will have to develop their own system of returning the money to customers at the end of the event once the container is returned.

Along these same lines, the royal decree states that public bodies will promote the consumption of drinking water in their premises through fountains or the use of reusable containers, with the exception of health centres, where single-use plastics will still be permitted.

Recycling

Where single-use plastics are still sold, the retailer must ensure that a robust system of deposit, return and recycle is in place for any containers over 3 litres. This will include beverages such as bottled water, juices, soft drinks, energy drinks and alcohol and will also apply to drinks sold in cans or cardboard cartons.

The producer of the beverage will establish the deposit amount, which will first be paid by the retailer. The cost will then be passed on to the consumer, who will be reimbursed once the container is returned.

In other news: Relief for shoppers as Spanish government reduces VAT on food

Image: Pixabay

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