EU proposes a ban on single-use plastic cutlery, straws, and more

Plastic bottles on a beach in the UK.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The European Commission wants to ban 10 single-use plastic items, including cutlery and straws, and have plastic producers help pay the cost of cleaning up plastics and waste management by 2030.

These 10 items make up 70 percent of the litter in European Union waters, CNN reports. The European Commission released its draft rules on Monday, and they must be approved by all EU member states and the European Parliament. It could take up to four years for the rules to be enacted.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.