New plastic bottle caps to prevent littering

iStock

Plastic bottles now have caps attached to prevent littering, following an EU directive enacted in July. This policy targets the issue of plastic bottle caps, which are commonly found in the environment and pose risks to wildlife. The tethered caps make it harder to throw them away, reducing the chances of littering.

This initiative mirrors a 1980s change in drink cans, where pull tabs were redesigned to stay attached, preventing them from becoming sharp hazards. Plastic bottle caps, now among the top ten litter items in rivers and oceans, are often ingested by marine animals due to their buoyancy and small size.

By tethering the cap to the bottle, only one item of litter is created, which is easier to pick up and less likely to be ingested. However, recycling challenges remain. Caps are often made from different plastics and may need to be separated during recycling. Some worry this could lead to more plastic waste going to landfills, but tethering might simplify sorting and recycling.

Overall, tethered caps are a step forward in combating plastic pollution, shifting responsibility from the public to manufacturers. Instead of relying on people not to litter, the design now discourages littering altogether.

https://theconversation.com/why-plastic-bottles-now-have-their-caps-attached-239886

Author: Sylvia Jacobs

Schreibe einen Kommentar

Deine E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht veröffentlicht. Erforderliche Felder sind mit * markiert