The statewide ban on the highly polluting items actually went into effect March 1. But enforcement, which was supposed to start a month later, was delayed by the one-two punch of a lawsuit and the coronavirus pandemic, NY1 reported.
Topic: Plastic pollution
3 major UK retailers are banning glitter this Christmas over environmental concerns
Morrisons, Waitrose and John Lewis have all announced that their store brand holiday products will be glitter free for 2020, BBC News reported. The festive coating and arts-and-crafts staple is actually another type of microplastic.
Canada to ban single-use plastic bags, straws, and cutlery in 2021
Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced the next steps in the government’s plan to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030, including a ban on single-use plastic items such as plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and more next year.
New Jersey to pass nation’s most comprehensive single-use plastics ban
Once signed into law by Governor Philip Murphy, the ban would go into effect in 18 months, giving businesses the time to adapt to the new policies. In addition to plastic bags and containers, the bill also bans paper bags from grocery stores and makes plastic straws available only upon request at restaurants.
Scientists create a ‘super enzyme’ that breaks down plastic six times faster
The super enzyme could have major benefits for recycling PET, which is the most common thermoplastic used in single-use drinks bottles and clothing. PET takes hundreds of years to degrade in the environment.