Brussels [Belgium], July 3 (ANI / Sputnik): The EU’s ban on certain single-use plastic products, including plates, cutlery, food containers and cotton swabs, went into effect on Saturday.

” Today is the big day ! Europe says goodbye to: single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and cotton swabs, mugs, styrofoam food and drink containers and all plastic products oxo-degradable, “EU Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said on Twitter.

The new rules were announced by the European Commission on May 31. On July 3, member states were to ensure that products for which an affordable plastic-free alternative is available are no longer sold on the EU market.

The use of other plastic products, such as fishing gear, single-use plastic bags, bottles, food and drink containers for immediate consumption, packages and packaging, tobacco filters, sanitary ware and wet wipes, should be limited.

The new rules come into force as part of the Single-Use Plastics Directive which states that the EU is reducing the amount of plastic waste, by tackling 10 single-use plastic items and fishing gear that represents most of the litter found on EU beaches. (ANI / Sputnik)