Responsible plastic management, substantially emanating from EU measures and national initiatives targeting the main sources of plastic pollution and which includes the following key factors:
A sound waste management, including regulation, waste statistics, guidance, a national waste management plan and waste management plans in all municipalities. Separate collection of different wastes, a deposit system for PET bottles and aluminum canes and high targets for recycling. Information and education about the importance of both separated collection of waste and the impact of littering, through municipalities as well as schools and special campaigns.
A ban on littering. Sweden has a ban which make all littering punishable by fine or imprisonment. This is codified the Environmental Code and the municipalities are obliged by law to uphold sanitation standards, implemented through monitoring.
A plan to reduce the use of Plastic bags. A Swedish ordinance requires the distributors of plastic carrier bags to inform consumers about:
- the environmental impact of plastic carriers bags and the benefits of reduced consumption of plastic carrier bags and,
- measures to reduce consumption.
The manufacturer and importers of plastic carrier bags have to report to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the number of bags they put on the Swedish market, The SEPA in turn monitors the reduction and reports to the EU. Other measures can be activated if consumption does not decrease.
A plan to map sources and reduce pollution from micro plastics. In order to act against pollution of micro plastics there is a need to map all sources and the Swedish EPA is tasked to do this. . Sweden aims to ban micro plastic in rinse of cosmetics and the. Swedish Chemical Agency has been tasked to assess the risk with micro plastics in other products, including leave on cosmetics.
Financial support for measures against plastics in the ocean, such as
Cleaning beaches from plastic waste,
Financial support for water treatment
Innovation and new materials
A governmental commission to reduce the negative environmental impact from plastics,
To increase the knowledge of negative environmental effects of plastics a governmental commission of inquiry has been appointed to map the environmental impacts of plastics throughout their life cycle and to propose measures to reduce these impacts.
A government commission on measures against littering of plastic
To suggest measures against littering of plastic.
Financial contribution to UN environmental campaign Clean Sea
Financial support for measures against plastics in the ocean
Governmental commission for mapping micro plastic source
Governmental commission to reduce negative environmental impacts from plastics