The issue of plastics, and in particular the problem of pollution of the marine environment by plastic waste (the so-called "marine litter"), has assumed increasing importance in recent years. To support the definition and implementation of municipal waste reduction strategies deriving from the use of single-use plastic products, ANCI Emilia Romagna has recently published a useful handbook by Paolo Azzurro, Giovanna Pinca, Alessandro Rossi. The work, after a first part dedicated to the design of "No Disposable" strategies, passes to the examination of the many interesting initiatives that, in Italy and abroad, have been activated by various subjects (local authorities, universities, public establishments, retail chains ...) to contribute to the reduction of plastic waste. According to the authors, it is essential to avoid replacing a disposable plastic product with one in bioplastic (even if defined as “compostable” or “biodegradable”) or in other materials: in fact, in this way we act simply by “moving” the problem. There is thus a risk of “consolidating the erroneous perception that alternatives to traditional plastics can be considered sustainable in themselves regardless of the context and assessments of the impacts linked to the entire life cycle of the materials with which the related products are made." Furthermore, the use of disposable plastics is also analyzed in relation to their supposed greater safety and hygiene in relation to the COVID-19 emergency: from several authoritative sources, including the Ministry of Health itself, it was clearly reported that "washing the reusable dishes with hot water and detergent ensures adequate sanitation of the products". Finally, the document highlights the need to define adequate policy measures able to incentivize, simplify, encourage and promote the adoption of behaviors and operating practices in line with a precise hierarchy that affirms the primacy of prevention actions over those aimed at replacement of single-use plastic products with other single-use products. The document can be consulted on the ANCI Emilia-Romagna website. Enjoy the reading !
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