From January 1, 2025, Thailand banned the import of plastic waste. 

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Trade issued the regulation in early December and it was published in the Royal Gazette on December 16, 2024 to become law.

The provision allows for a bidding period between December 17 and 31, allowing carriers until the end of 2024 to complete outstanding imports.

In 2021, Thailand generated 5.68 million tons of plastic waste with a recycling rate of 19%. The country is stepping up its efforts to strengthen its plastic waste management strategy and accelerate the realization of Thailand's sustainable development goals. In fact, Thailand has already regulated plastic waste imports from 2023. The 14 recycling stations located in duty-free zones are not allowed to import more waste than their total capacity of 372,994 tons in 2023. In 2024, the amount of plastic waste imported by these plants must be reduced to half of their capacity. If processed plastic waste is imported outside the duty-free zone, the importer must prove that the import is necessary due to supply shortages. Imported plastic waste must be used as a raw material in the production process without being cleaned up. Prior to Thailand's action, other Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia and Vietnam, had already banned the import of plastic waste. China had already banned the import of 24 types of foreign waste in four categories, including plastic waste, back in January 2018 and shut down a number of highly polluting waste treatment plants.

December 12, 2024 - The California Senate is passing a new bill that by January 1, 2027, will require plastic beverage containers up to 3 liters, to use one-piece lids. 

1. Bill to be heard in 2025

Disposable plastic lids are easily separated from the bottle, reducing the likelihood of recycling and increasing the likelihood of becoming trash.

California Senator Steve Padilla drafted this bill, SB-45. The bill will be heard in the coming months of 2025.

The practice of using conjoined lids is already common in Europe, and in 2018, the European Union announced a directive to phase out separated plastic bottle caps by the summer of 2024 in an effort to reduce single-use plastics.

2, most plastic caps can not be recycled

California generates more than 14 billion plastic beverage containers and caps each year, and while 70 percent of those bottles are recycled, most of the caps are not. Data suggests that only a small portion of the 44 million pounds of plastic bottle caps generated annually are reasonably recycled.In 2023, plastic bottle caps were the third most common litter on California's beaches, triple the amount of plastic bottles in question. 

In 2024 alone, surf volunteers cleaned up nearly 30,000 plastic bottle caps off the coast of the United States. Sea turtles, seabirds, whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions and other creatures mistake plastic caps for food, and these plastic products can cause terrible injuries such as internal injuries, starvation and poisoning, said Jennifer Savage, associate director of California policy for the Surfrider Foundation. 

3、Commonly connected cover

The common types of lids include screw-on lids, and snap-on lids. The screw-on conjoined cap is the more dominant design introduced today, with many major packaging brands commercially adopting this design.

The Coca-Cola Company was the first to introduce this new type of cap in the European market in November 2022, with brands such as Lipton, Oyassis, and Parc following suit.

In 2024, more and more states and cities in the U.S., from the East Coast to the West Coast, are phasing out plastic. 

CALIFORNIA: Possibly in the vanguard of the anti-plastic movement, a second plastic bag ban was enacted in November to close a loophole in the state's first such 2014 law. The previous law made an exception for thicker, high-density polyethylene bags, which are considered reusable and meet certain respectability standards. This new law, which bans all plastic shopping bags in grocery stores, will go into effect on January 1, 2026. A coalition called the Responsible Recycling Alliance (RRA), made up of three California-based recycle's and manufacturers, has formed to fight this new law.RRA urges that these bags be included in the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Program, and argues that the law undermines the progress of the state's recycling infrastructure.

Other noteworthy laws in effect in other U.S. states include the following.

Colorado: Prohibits retail food establishments (grocery and convenience stores) from providing single-use plastic carryout bags. Prohibits retail food establishments from using expanded polystyrene food containers to distribute ready-to-eat foods. Prohibits the distribution of food packaging that is intentionally laden with fluoridated and hydrofluorocarbon substances (PFAS). PFAS are substances known to break down slowly over time. PFAS have been found globally in human and animal blood, as well as in water, air, fish and soil. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that some studies have shown adverse effects of PFAS on human and animal health.

Hawaii: Prohibits the manufacture or sale of food packaging (wrappers and liners, dinner plates, food containers, and pizza boxes, etc.) to which PFAS is intentionally added.

Minnesota: prohibits the intentional addition of PFAS to food packaging.

New Jersey: Passed recycled content laws requiring at least 10% recycled content in rigid plastic containers, 15% in plastic beverage containers, and 20% in disposable plastic tote bags. Prohibits the use of polystyrene packaging pellets.

Rhode Island: banned single-use plastic checkout bags statewide.

Washington State: Bans bags, sleeves, bowls, flatware (e.g., plates and trays), open-top containers, and sealed containers (e.g., flip-top containers) containing fluoridated and hydrofluorocarbon substances. A series of bills focusing on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and further bans have also emerged.

FLORIDA: S 0498 The bill would have restricted local governments from regulating secondary containers, packaging materials, single-use plastic bags, and polystyrene products (did not pass).

Hawaii: HB 1585 would prohibit state agencies from purchasing or using polystyrene food service containers (pending).

Illinois: HB 4448 A bill that would prohibit a store or food service business from offering or selling single-use plastic bags, and also prohibit grocery stores from offering or selling single-use paper bags (pending consideration).

Kansas: HB 1446 would have prohibited cities and counties from regulating plastic and other containers (vetoed).

Maryland: HB 168 would require manufacturers of certain plastic products to pay an annual fee and set minimum requirements for post-consumer recycled content (pending).

Massachusetts: S 570 would ban single-use plastic bags and food service utensils, regulate the use of plastic bottles, explore extended producer responsibility for packaging, and encourage composting (replaced by new draft S2830).

New York: S 8361 would prohibit state agencies and offices from purchasing single-use plastic water bottles (pending).

Meanwhile, amid escalating legal action against plastics, the city of Baltimore has followed New York State's lead and sued Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, and plastics manufacturing companies, saying they “played a significant role” in creating the plastic pollution crisis.

On Nov. 7, Malaysia's Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nie Nazmi said the government expects to impose a total ban on the use of single-use plastic bags and gradually transition to the use of biodegradable plastic bags in 2026 or earlier. 

He said in order to further reduce the use of single-use plastics, the government has adopted a “user pays” policy by imposing a minimum charge of 20 sen on traditional plastic bags at stores.

He said the policy was first implemented in Penang, followed by Selangor, FATA, Perak, Kedah and Perlis. 

“The department is reviewing the implementation of the 'user pays principle' and setting a new direction, and the department is considering not providing single-use plastic bags as early as 2026 (or earlier). He said the department had received positive feedback from consultations with nine state and local governments, which would be held next in Pahang, Terengganu Kelantan, Sarawak and Sabah. 

He said the states that have implemented the “no single-use plastic bag” policy include Negeri Sembilan Penang and Kota Kinabalu Sabah, while the Federal Territory has largely stopped providing traditional plastic bags and encouraged the use of biodegradable plastic bags. 

He was responding to a written reply yesterday in Parliament to a question from Kuaturaman, MP for Kupang Pasir district of the Land Regiment Party (LRP), who asked about the Malaysian people's daily intake of 502.3 milligrams of microplastics and the government's progress in implementing the Zero Plastic Bags Roadmap to 2030. 

Nie Nazmi emphasized that promoting the sustainable management of plastics and reducing plastic pollution is a long-term and difficult task, especially in the area of marine pollution, and therefore the government will continue to work with industry, non-governmental organizations and all sectors of society to strengthen public awareness and continuously improve plastic management policies, and make progress towards the goal of “zero single-use plastics” by 2030. The Government will continue to work with industry, non-governmental organizations and all sectors of the community to enhance public awareness and continuously improve its plastic management policy, with a view to achieving the goal of “zero single-use plastic” by 2030.

Recently, the Republic of Guinea issued a decree banning the production, importation, sale and use of single-use plastic packaging and items, with the aim of promoting public health, promoting biodegradable packaging, protecting the environment, improving the health of the population and animals, and reducing pollution.

(Single-use plastic packaging or articles: means all plastic packaging or articles designed for single-use and then discarded or recycled, including plastic bags, oxo-degradable plastics, and articles made partly of plastic. )

The Decree applies to all relevant producers, importers, enterprises and individuals who use single-use plastics. The Decree prohibits the disposal of single-use plastic packaging in public places, towns and villages, drainage systems and waters. Single-use plastic items for medical, agricultural and military purposes, garbage collection bags and plastic packaging for certain food and pharmaceutical products are exempted from the decree. Single-use plastic items that have been ordered or are in stock may be used within six months of the entry into force of the decree, and producers have two years to comply with the relevant provisions. In the Republic of Guinea, all activities involved in the production or importation of biodegradable packaging are subject to a certification requirement signed jointly by the Ministries of the Environment, Industry and Commerce. The certification process is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment.

The full text is as follows:

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 Purpose

Purpose: This decree prohibits the manufacture, import, sale and use of single-use plastic packaging and articles in the Republic of Guinea. The purpose of the decree is to promote public health, to promote biodegradable packaging as an alternative to plastic packaging and articles, to protect sanitation, to improve human and animal health and to combat pollution and harmful substances.

Article 2 Definitions

DEFINITIONS: In this Decree, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Single-use plastic packaging or objects: means all plastic packaging or objects designed for single use and then discarded or recycled, including plastic bags, oxo-degradable plastics, and objects made partly of plastic.

Oxo-degradable plastics: Plastics that break down into tiny fragments or undergo chemical decomposition through oxidation, often referred to as oxy-biodegradation, photo-degradation, thermal degradation, oxy-fragmentation, or containing plastic additives that promote oxidation.

Article 3 Scope of application

This Decree applies to any producer or importer of disposable plastic packaging and articles in the national territory, as well as to natural or legal persons engaged in commercial, industrial, handicraft or professional activities that require the use of disposable plastic packaging and articles.

Chapter II. Plastic disposable packaging and articles prohibitions and exemptions

Article 4 Prohibition

Any form of promotion, importation, sale and distribution of single-use plastic packaging and articles throughout the country is prohibited. In addition, the following acts are prohibited: 

1. Dumping or disposing of plastic packaging and articles in streets and other public places, sanitation facilities, drainage systems, rivers and waters in both urban and rural areas.

2. Placing plastic packages and articles containing solids or liquids in public areas, including inland waters.

3. Dispose of plastic packaging and objects in the natural environment, on public roads or in unofficial dumps.

4. Dispose of or discard single-use plastic items and other items in inland waters.

5. The production, import, sale and distribution of all single-use plastic packaging and articles.

6. Any sinking of plastic packages and articles containing solids or liquids into inland waters, dams and rivers.

Article V. Exemptions

The following shall not be affected by this Decree:

1. Disposable plastic packaging and articles for medical use.

2. Disposable plastic packaging and articles for agricultural activities.

3. Disposable plastic packaging and articles for military activities and wartime.

4. Disposable plastic packaging and items used for garbage collection.

5. Small plastic containers used to package certain foods and medicines.

6. Plastic films used in construction and public works.

7. Plastic packaging used for packaging or shipping sanitary products (e.g., paper towels, sanitary napkins, toilet paper, etc.) within production units. However, the importation of raw materials required for the production of the above products is subject to prior authorization from the Ministry of the Environment and compliance with relevant regulations.

Article 6 Production and import of biodegradable packaging

The production and importation of biodegradable packaging is permitted provided that the following information is indicated: the identity of the producer, the technical specifications (e.g., material, thickness, weight-carrying capacity, and expiration date), and the words biodegradable or oxo-biodegradable.

Article 7 Certification of producers and importers of biodegradable packaging In the Republic of Guinea, all activities engaged in the production or importation of biodegradable packaging shall be subject to a certification requirement signed jointly by the Ministry of the Environment, Industry and Commerce. The certification procedure is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment.

Chapter III Administrative penalties

Article 8 Manufacture, import and sale of disposable plastic packaging and articles

Anyone who produces, imports and wholesales or retails single-use plastic packaging and articles faces closure of business, confiscation of products and administrative fines in accordance with the regulations. The Minister of the Environment is responsible for determining regulatory measures for single-use plastic packaging and articles through regulations.

Article 9 Piling up or discarding single-use plastic items and packaging in unauthorized places

Anyone who deposits or discards single-use plastic packaging waste or articles in unauthorized public or private places shall be subject to an administrative fine, the amount of which shall be determined by statute, as well as the obligation to remove the waste and repair the damage caused.

Article 10: Recidivism

In the event of a second violation of the prohibitions set forth in this Decree, the administrative fine shall be doubled.

Article 11 Period for payment of administrative fines

A person who is subject to an administrative fine under this Decree is required to pay the fine within seven working days of receiving written notification that his or her activities have been temporarily suspended. If the person fails to pay the fine within the specified time, a late fee of 1 per cent of the amount owed will be charged for each day of delay.

Article 12 Department responsible for collecting administrative fines

The technical services of the Ministry of the Environment, which are responsible for controlling and prohibiting the production, importation, use and sale of single-use plastic packaging and articles, are authorized to collect administrative fines, which are deposited in the account of the Environment and Natural Capital Fund (FECAN).

Chapter IV Transitional Provisions

Article 13 Transitional period

Plastic disposable packaging and articles that have been ordered or are in stock are exempted from the provisions of this Decree for a period of six months after its entry into force. Industrial establishments producing single-use plastic packaging and articles in the Republic of Guinea must comply with the provisions of this Decree within two years of the date of its signature.

chapter v. final provisions

Article 14

The Ministers responsible for the environment, industry, trade, territorial administration and decentralization, budget, finance, housing, infrastructure, transport, justice and communications are each responsible for the strict implementation of this Decree.

Article 15

This Decree, which repeals all previous provisions to the contrary, shall enter into force on the date of its signature and shall be registered and published in the Official Journal of the Republic.

At the end of August, California lawmakers passed two identical bills to ban all plastic shopping bags in California. The State Senate passed AB 2236 on the evening of August 28th and the State Assembly passed SB 1053 on August 29th.Both bills aim to completely ban grocers from offering any non-paper bags.

On the evening of August 28, while presenting AB 2236, Senator Blakespear held up a paper bag and a reusable bag in the Senate to show what the bill would allow. 

Plastic bags have an average lifespan of 12 minutes before they are thrown away, with toxic microplastics rotting in our oceans and landfills for up to 1,000 years affecting our environment. The aim of the legislation is to incentivize consumers to carry their own reusable bags, a practice encouraged and supported by stores, which will reduce the expensive and wasteful practice of relying on store-provided takeaway bags. The next step is for them to be sent to the governor's desk, which will be looked at by Sept. 30 to see if they officially become law. If signed into law, it would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, at the earliest. California first introduced similar legislation in 2014, which was then approved by the state's voters in 2016. It allows stores to offer “reusable plastic takeout bags that are considered thicker.”

The truth is that thicker bags are hard to recycle - they're rarely recycled - and they're rarely reused. Instead, they contribute to California's growing plastic waste. According to CalRecycle, the number of grocery and merchandise bags Californians dispose of has grown 47 percent from 157,385 tons the year California passed its plastic bag ban to 231,072 tons in 2022.

June 25, 2012 - Colorado's Compostable Product Labeling Act, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2024, requires that certain products labeled as compostable must be certified and clearly labeled. Eco-Products USA has introduced a new line of compostable products, "Veridian", which meets these requirements.

The "Veridian" range consists of more than 50 products, including flip-top boxes, cups, lids, cutlery, bowls and containers. These products display the word "compostable" as well as the BPI certification mark, indicating that they are compostable and meet the standards set by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). In addition, they feature a green or brown identification mark to distinguish them from non-compostable packaging.

The new law aims to address contamination in the waste stream by ensuring that only certified compostable products are so labeled. This will help prevent non-compostable items from being thrown into compost bins, thereby reducing the growth of composting infrastructure and the resulting environmental impact. 

Eco-Products USA's "Veridian" line has been tested and certified by BPI, the leading authority on compostable products in North America. With this new line, companies can confidently meet Colorado's labeling requirements while contributing to a more sustainable future.