ACR+

Introduction

The level of ambition with which Member States transpose and implement the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive may largely sit at the national or regional level, but local municipalities and cities often act as hubs to innovate and accelerate progress towards change.

This short guide has been specifically designed for municipality officials who are interested in and committed to successfully implementing the 2019 SUP Directive within their city or community. It has been designed as a supplement to the ‘Guide for National Decision Makers to Implement the Single-Use Plastics Directive.’

It contains advice and inspiration for policies and actions at the local level. Each of the ideas listed below can be applied in a variety of contexts found across Europe, but they will be most successful when they have been tailored and adapted to meet the specific needs of the city or community. This is most often achieved through the meaningful inclusion and engagement of local stakeholders throughout the policy design and implementation process.

Too often, the fight against waste and pollution is too narrow and focuses solely on the lower part of the waste hierarchy, specifically the collection and management of waste. We hope that this short guide can act as a catalyst for municipalities, increasing awareness and inspiring action to address the issue of plastic pollution further up the waste hierarchy, by implementing effective waste prevention and reduction policies that will turn the tide against the flow of single-use plastics into our streets, beaches and seas.