Plastic container

New mandatory pricing for plastic packaging for food and drinks has come into effect in Bulgaria today, under a new regulation. The updated minimum prices are set at 30 stotinki (15 euro cents) for bulk food containers and 15 stotinki for drink cups, including lids and caps.

Port authorities at Igoumenitsa port, in northwest Greece, have seized a large quantity of drugs discovered on a refrigerated truck entering the country from Italy. The truck's driver, a 57-year-old Greek national, was arrested in connection with the incident.

The drugs, with an estimated market value exceeding €3 million, were discovered following a police dog sniff alert.

Turkey recycled some 2 million tons of waste, including plastics, glass and tires last year, according to data state-run Anadolu Agency compiled.

Data showed that 730 tons of waste batteries, some 178,00 tons of waste tires and 484, 000 tons of plastic were recycled in 2019.

The recycled materials also included some 234,000 tons of glass and 821,000 tons of packaging waste.

China will ban non-degradable plastic bags in big cities. The restaurant industry will also be banned from using single-use straws by the end of this year in an effort to reduce waste.

The country is one of the largest plastic consumers in the world, and the plan aims to reduce 30% non-degradable single-use packaging in large cities' food establishments within 5 years.

In the EU, an estimated 42% of plastic packaging waste was recycled in 2017. In seven EU Member States, more than half of the plastic packaging waste generated was recycled in 2017.

A ban on the sale of disposable plastic bottles at an international airport comes into force in San Francisco.

Travelers who only want water will have to buy reusable aluminum or glass bottles if they do not carry their own.

San Francisco Airport dealers are required to use only disposable plastic containers and utensils.