Bulletin: 135
Date: 13-10-2021
LAW ON WASTE AND POLLUTED SOILS (Source: AIMPLAS)
Different associations in the Plastics sector have presented allegations to the new Law, so when it comes into force it will have several amendments. This Law has created a lot of confusion, even in the technicians of the plastic sector because in the Law there is a lot of confusion in the definition of plastics, bioplastics, single-use applications, etc.
It is very possible that in the General State Budgets for 2022, the collection of the tax on plastics is foreseen, which is expected to come into force in March 2022. The Ministry of Finance will be the one that will regulate the application of said Law.
From the Technical sector, it is thought that the application of this Law has been a more political issue than a technical issue, to reduce plastic waste.
The 450 € tonne tax must be paid by the company that sells the plastic / bioplastic to be used in a single-use application in Spain. This causes an additional problem, because the supplier many times does not know the final application of the product that he sells to the customer, and in addition, customers can manufacture different products with the same polymer.
The Law, as it is currently known, may cause that biopolymers are not used for the manufacture of single-use containers.
In November, Aimplas will hold a workshop / webinar in which it will explain the current situation of the Law.
Aimplas understands that companies that produce biopolymers have dedicated a lot of effort, research and investments to develop these products and due to this Law, they will pay the same tax in single-use applications as polymers from fossil fuels.
COFFEE CAPSULES
Aimplas recommends using PLA for this application, even knowing that PLA is industrially compostable and “not home compost”, because the coffee capsule must be deposited in the organic waste container, since it contains coffee waste and the capsule must be collected. and treated in an industrial composting and recycling plant.
Aimplas also comments that biopolymers that are labelled as “home compost” and that want to compost at home, must be treated under certain conditions. These capsules with coffee must be added to the compost, only when it is mature, they cannot be included in the compost from the beginning of the treatment. These “home compost” biopolymers are from the PHA’s family.
Aimplas explains that the only advantage of using PHA’s biopolymers instead of PLA is that the PHA’s will not be subject to the new legislation and they will not have to pay the tax because they are manufactured by bacteriological fermentation and not by chemical means. PHA’s have additional problems such as the same production (bacteriological fermentation), production capacity, handling of the biopolymer, price, etc.
DRAFTING MG
For nearly a decade, major polymer manufacturers have been investing heavily in the development of biodegradable and compostable polymers, especially polylactic acid (PLA), in order to help improve the environment.
Unlike other EU countries, in Spain, PLA biopolymers will not be exempt from the tax levied on all polymers with 450 € tonnes that are going to be used in single-use items.
It is surprising that here this measure, which seriously harms biopolymers, differs from that of other EU countries, especially when the use of other products other than plastic and whose carbon footprint is infinitely higher is not regulated in the same way with this tax, as can be aluminium and other metals.
RGPD: Data Protection Information of MARSELLÀ GLOBAL S.L. (smarsella@marsellaglobal.com):
PURPOSE: To inform you of our products and services by electronic means. LEGITIMATION: Legitimate interest in keeping you informed as a client and / or user. ASSIGNMENTS: Not contemplated. CONSERVATION: During the contractual relationship and / or until you request us to leave the business and, during the periods required by law to meet any responsibilities after the relationship ends. RIGHTS: You can exercise your right of access, rectification, deletion, portability of your data and limitation or opposition in the email address of the person in charge. In case of divergences, you can file a claim with the Data Protection Agency (www.aepd.es).
Comments are closed.