News
OPA response to AFOR (formerly the Composting Association) - March 2010
OPA response to "European Bioplastics" - August 2009
Plastic Bag Bans
The California Court of Appeals has refused to allow the City of Manhattan Beach to ban plastic bags without making a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment. They must consider among all relevant factors whether a ban on plastic bags would increase the use of paper bags or would otherwise cause damaging effects upon the environment.
See:http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=incaco20100127062
and http://www.biodeg.org/position-papers/Plastic-bag-bans/?domain=biodeg.org
New Legislation
Montenegro imposed a tax on 1st January 2010 of 1,000 Euros per tonne on products made from ordinary plastic, but only 1 Euro per tonne on products made from biodegradable plastic tested according to ASTM D6954-04 or ASTM D6400-04 or EN 13432. Montenegro now joins Argentina, Brazil, Mauritius, Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, Barbados, the United Arab Emirates, and Mexico where legislation is already in place giving preference to biodegradable plastic.
New Standard
A standard for testing oxo-biodegradable plastic (5009/2009) has been published by the United Arab Emirates, effective from 1st January 2010.
The following articles by Professor Gerald Scott DSc, FRSC, C.Chem, FIMMM; Professor Emeritus of Polymer Science of Aston University, UK, and Chairman of the British Standards Institute's Committee on Biodegradability of Plastics have been published:
Bioplastics Magazine: December 2009
Energy & Environment Magazine: October 2009
Packaging Today: October 2009