The brand-new French Solid Waste Partnership held its first event on May 30, 2013 at Rooftop Grenelle, just minutes from the UNESCO building where the negotiations took place.

The aim of the meeting was to feed the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution which took place in Paris from May 29 to June 2. The event was organized in partnership with ASTEE, the French Water Partnership (PFE), the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), UN-Habitat and UNEP.

Delegations of negotiators from several countries were present on the panels and in the room, and were invited to react to the key messages structured around four pillars:

• impact on water ;
• reduction the plastics brought to market;
• reducing plastic leakage into the environment through holistic waste management ;
• recycling.

OUTLOOK

International policy perspective: protecting water quality from source to sea

The treaty should include explicit reference to the Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UNWC) and the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention). Both conventions deal directly or indirectly with the protection of marine ecosystems, and in particular with plastic pollution from river systems.

A scientific and practical perspective: the precautionary principle and improved knowledge

• Include in the treaty a list of authorized polymers and additives, rather than a simple list of prohibited substances. Given that over 66,000 plastic substances exist, only this approach would make it possible to control environmental risks and recyclability.
• On a national level, it is necessary to develop harmonized know-how on the quantification of the various plastics found in water, with the ultimate aim of being able to trace them back to their uses, and thus enlighten decision-makers on the levers for action. Developing this know-how is important to support the effectiveness of future regulations.

Waste management outlook

1: reduce the volume of plastics

The number one priority is to reduce the overall volume of plastic waste. This priority is perfectly in line with the solid waste sector’s ambition to reduce the overall volumes of waste produced. Reducing the volume of plastics requires to strategically tackle the most harmful plastics as a priority, and to think in depth about the impact of the proposed alternatives. This approach requires decision-makers to be informed by comprehensive scientific knowledge on the uses of plastics that lead to pollution and their effects on health and biodiversity.

2: reduce plastic “leakage” from poorly managed waste

An efficient collection system prevents plastic waste from ending up in the environment.

Treatment must be tailored to the local context and aim to prevent plastics from polluting the natural environment. Treatment solutions include: sanitary landfills for non-recovered waste streams, recycling systems adapted to the needs of the local market and which can be controlled and monitored, and waste-to-energy solutions.

3: recycle

It is often necessary to create recycling markets. Recycled materials often remain economically more expensive. The market initiation mechanism must initiate recycling programs that lead to resource conservation, energy savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that recycled materials/objects do not release harmful plastics into the environment (example of recycled plastic furniture leaking toxic plastics in urban spaces). The challenges and complexities of setting up such systems include recycling infrastructure, creating market demand for products, changing consumer behavior and stakeholder cooperation.