Government & Public Policy

As part of the nation’s end-of-waste legislation, French regulators have recategorized recovered paper as a product instead of as waste, Euwid reported on Jan. 19. 

To achieve product status in France, recovered paper and cartonboard must meet the European EN 643 list of standards, which includes containing no more than 1.5 percent of non-paper contents, among other criteria for sufficient quality.

However, the EU still classifies recovered paper as waste. Proposals to reclassify recovered paper from being waste have also proven controversial. The waste management association Federec supports France’s reclassification since it could streamline European exports of recovered paper. On the other hand, the paper trade group Copacel has disagreed with parts of the legislation as detrimental to the paper industry. 

The primary source for this article is Euwid, Gernsbach, Germany, published Jan. 19, 2022. To read the original article, click here. (Full access may require a subscription.)
 

Cartersville, Ga., Hyundai/Genesis auto dealer Matt Laughridge on Wednesday told members of the House Agriculture Committee that franchised dealers are all-in on electric vehicles and are essential to greater adoption of EVs in more areas of the country, particular across rural America.

“Franchised dealers are not only all-in on selling and servicing EVs; dealers are essential to their speedy adoption by consumers,” Laughridge said in testimony during the hearing entitled “Implications of Electric Vehicle Investments for Agriculture and Rural America.”

Laughridge, who testified on behalf of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), explained the many ways dealers will be critical to advance the process of transitioning millions of Americans from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs, which still comprise less than 3% of new vehicle sales.

“As with any unfamiliar technology, consumers will need to be educated on owning and operating an EV. Customers will also need a reliable nationwide network of qualified service technicians to service their EV or perform safety recalls. Customers will also want a place where they can ‘kick the tires,’ test drive a new EV, trade in their old vehicle, and obtain affordable financing – preferably under one roof,” Laughridge said.

Laughridge also outlined how franchised dealers across America will spend between $2-3 billion on installing electric chargers, purchasing special equipment, parts and tools, and investing in training sales and service personnel in order to prepare for selling and servicing the dozens of new EVs that automakers already are or will soon be manufacturing.

“My two dealerships have already committed to spend $160,000 in upgrades to prepare for future EV sales,” Laughridge said.

Laughridge also encouraged the committee to consider the importance of widespread availability of public charging points as well as non-proprietary charging infrastructure.

“Another challenge that will disproportionately impact rural America is the ease and availability of public charging,” he said. “Today any gasoline-powered vehicle can be refueled at any gasoline pump, but not every EV charger is compatible with every EV. In our view, one of the biggest potential impediments to widespread EV deployment could be avoided if all publicly funded charging stations were made non-proprietary and EVs were standardized so they could be recharged at any charging station.”

“America’s franchised dealers look forward to helping usher in the next chapter of America’s automotive history by doing what dealers do best: selling and servicing automobiles that provide our customers with reliable and affordable private transportation,” Laughridge said.

Today, the European Commission has launched a public consultation on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics. The consultation will provide insight for preparing a new policy framework on these groups of plastics. The aim of the new framework - a key deliverable of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan is to address emerging sustainability challenges related to the use of the biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics and by driving innovation, enhancing investment certainty within the internal market and increasing environmental protection.

Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said:

Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics have the potential to bring advantages over traditional plastics. However, we need to thoroughly assess if these plastics deliver on their promises, and under what conditions. We also need to bring clarity to the market so consumers and businesses can easily understand the differences between these plastics.

Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics currently make up 1% of the global and European plastic market, with an overall expected growth of 5–8% between 2020 and 2025. At present, these types of plastics are predominantly used for specific packaging and agricultural purposes, offering advantages like biodegradability or compostability.

The consultation follows the publication of the roadmap that outlines the objective of the framework – to address the emerging sustainability challenges related to the use of these plastics. Specifically, it maps the following policy areas to be explored:

Policy area 1: The sustainability of the biological feedstock used to produce biobased plastics

Using biological feedstock instead of feedstock made from fossil fuels can help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics across the whole life-cycle. However, the full life-cycle environmental impacts need to be considered - including land use changes, biodiversity and climate impacts, and littering. At present, no EU sustainability criteria apply to these plastics, while consumers expect them to be fully sustainable.

Policy area 2: The effective biodegradation of biodegradable and compostable plastics and their role in a circular economy

These plastics can only deliver environmental benefits if their biodegradation can be verified by means of standards. Whilst European standards exist for some media such as industrial composting, no European standards exist for biodegradable plastics in other conditions, such as the marine environment. In addition, the circular economy and ‘waste hierarchy’ principles suggest only using these plastics for limited, specific purposes for which reducing, reusing and recycling are not feasible or desirable.

Policy area 3: Widespread confusion

Although these plastics have many similarities, they also have many differences. Consumers and users of these plastics do not currently have access to clear and trustworthy information when buying or disposing of these plastics. Labelling can only help when it is clear and complete. Furthermore, if these plastics are disposed of incorrectly, it could lead to cross-contamination of waste streams and therefore less plastics circularity.

The consultation is published on the DG ENV website and is open for feedback for 8 weeks until 15 March 2022. The Commission services will take feedback into account when preparing the policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics, expected to be adopted in summer 2022.

• Through a partnership with Alliances for Global Sustainability, Borouge is contributing to realising the UAE’s
• national strategy for sustainable development and promotion of a circular economy
• New partnership to identify environmentally sustainable practices at Borouge facilities
• Agreement to strengthen both partners’ commitment to recycling and reprocessing of polymers opportunities

Borouge, a leading petrochemical company providing innovative, value-creating polyolefin solutions, has entered into an agreement with the Alliances for Global Sustainability (AGS), to support the UAE’s ambitions of adopting a circular economy. AGS is led by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and facilitates partnerships between corporate entities, to generate innovative business models which enable environmental sustainability and circularity in all forms.

The agreement deepens collaboration between both parties to combat sustainability challenges and untap the positive potential of polymer products. Under the terms of the agreement, Borouge will leverage the innovation, research, and development expertise of its world-class Borouge Innovation Centre, to promote and explore opportunities for the adoption of a circular economy in the UAE.

The new partnership will also identify opportunities for targeted initiatives and campaigns which enhance community awareness about environmental best practices in waste management and recycling.

In her remarks on the MoU signing, Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Founder and CEO of Alliances for Global Sustainability (AGS) said, “Partnerships and collaboration between all stakeholders are crucial in addressing global sustainability challenges. Our work with Borouge has the potential to drive greater energy and water efficiency, as well as targeting carbon emissions and progressing the transition to a circular economy."

Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge) commented: “It gives us great pleasure to partner with the Alliances for Global Sustainability, to address global issues such as climate change, barriers to the adoption of circular economies, and spur positive behaviours within the community. We share a common goal of actively overcoming challenges facing the UAE, which is home to millions of people from all walks of life.”

“Our belief is that through the concerted efforts of Borouge, partners, stakeholders and the community, we will secure a brighter future for the UAE and our planet.” added Al Suwaidi. The latest partnership will also build on joint resources and untap additional circular economy opportunities in Abu Dhabi.

Companies and military bases keep their PFAS pollution secret thanks to EPA-created loopholes

Legal document

Today, three national advocacy organizations represented by Earthjustice, sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in federal court to force the agency to close illegal loopholes that let chemical plants and military bases across the United States avoid disclosing their PFAS emissions into the environment during manufacturing or use of these cancer-causing chemicals.

Under Congress’s 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), PFAS manufacturers and polluters must report on nearly 200 PFAS they manufacture, use or release. The information is compiled by EPA in a public database called the Toxics Release Inventory, or TRI. But due to recently created EPA loopholes, chemical companies and the military can keep the PFAS they produce or dump in the environment secret.

“Thanks to EPA’s loopholes, communities, scientists and lawmakers don’t know which PFAS are being used, in what amounts, or to what extent companies are dumping PFAS in our air or water,” said Laurene Allen, a National PFAS Contamination Coalition leadership team spokesperson, and resident of Merrimack, New Hampshire, where known PFAS-polluter Saint Gobain Performance Plastics operates a major facility. “PFAS remain largely unregulated, so communities depend on accurate reporting to figure out how to advocate for themselves. EPA must close these loopholes immediately and force companies to accurately disclose their PFAS pollution.”

An Earthjustice review of the first data from TRI reports for PFAS, found that entities are either underreporting or not disclosing how they use or dump PFAS in the United States. For example, major PFAS polluters like the Department of Defense, and Saint Gobain Performance Plastics, did not report anything on the TRI. Also, only 39 facilities reported that they produced or processed more than 100 pounds of PFAS in 2020 — a number inexplicably low given the large volume of PFAS manufactured, imported, and used in the country. In addition, nearly half of the facilities that reported having manufactured, processed, or used PFAS in 2020, said that they did not release any PFAS into the environment.

EPA-created loopholes allow chemical companies and military agencies to avoid reporting their PFAS use and pollution if they release less than 500 pounds, and produced up to 1 million pounds of PFAS. EPA also allows secrecy if companies are mixing PFAS with other chemicals, even if dumping in air or water takes place.

“PFAS,” which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of thousands of chemicals that can persist in human bodies and in the environment for decades. Studies show PFAS are linked to cancer, immune system dysfunction, liver and kidney damage. More than 95% of the U.S. population has PFAS in their bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Chemicals in this class of more than 5,000 substances are found in products like nonstick pans, food packaging, waterproof jackets, and carpets to repel water, grease, and stains. They’re also used in firefighting foam often used on military bases and at commercial airports. Even personal care products like waterproof makeup, dental floss, sunscreen, shampoo, and shaving cream contain PFAS.

In October of 2021, EPA unveiled a roadmap to study and to some extent, regulate PFAS.

Earthjustice is filing this lawsuit on behalf of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition, Sierra Club, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

QUOTES FROM LEADING ATTORNEY AND CLIENTS:
“Families across the country have a right to know if a nearby chemical plant, or a military base, is dumping PFAS in the air or water,” said Eve Gartner, Earthjustice managing attorney. “PFAS are extremely toxic. They are linked to cancer, yet EPA is allowing secrecy loopholes to protect polluters. This must stop.”

“Millions of Americans are exposed to PFAS every day,” said Anita Desikan, senior analyst at the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Communities, scientists and lawmakers need accurate data for safety, investigation and policy development.”

“For decades, people in New Jersey have been exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals in their air and drinking water. This is extremely concerning because ​​PFAS are so toxic that a very low dose can cause significant health effects,” said Anjuli Ramos, director of the Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter. “EPA’s TRI reporting thresholds do not work when it comes to the evaluation and understanding of PFAS in the environment. Since states like New Jersey have limited regulatory authority to require companies to report their use and release of PFAS chemicals, the public counts on EPA to ensure the TRI accurately reflects all PFAS emissions for every company.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Breaking Down Toxic PFAS What PFAS are, why they’re harmful, and what we can do to protect ourselves from them.
Related case documents & news
About the Toxic Exposure & Health Program

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