Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

the Netherlands

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2021/08/31

Policy framework

National Action Plan

Name:
Policy programme on (micro) plastics – European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Brief description:
In 2018 the Netherlands has adopted a circular economy transition agenda for plastics. The aim is to close the loop for plastics by using them more intelligently and more economically and by utilizing more high-quality secondary raw materials and biomass.

To accelerate the transition to a closed-loop plastics chain and reduce emissions of CO2, the Plastics Transition Agenda has detailed four courses of action:

  1. prevention: more with less and reduced leakage;
  2. greater supply and demand for renewable plastics;
  3. better quality and better environmental returns;
  4. strategic cooperation, across the value chain.

The implementation programme for this agenda includes seven projects that are intended to put these four developmental aspects into practice. Together with all the actors, both public and private, efforts and investments will be made over the coming years with the aim of creating a fully circular plastics value chain by 2050.

As part of the transition agenda for plastics a specific policy programme has been developed for micro plastics. This subprogramme is part of the prevention track and it focusses on:

  • banning deliberate additions of microplastics in products at the European level;
  • tackling the emissions of microplastics as a consequence of the breakdown of plastic litter;
  • cutting down on emissions of microplastics as the result of wear and tear on products such as car tyres, paint and clothing;
  • getting a better understanding and a better picture of the effects of microplastics in the human body.

In 2015, the Netherlands adopted the national Program of Measures, as part of the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD). Based on top 10 beach litter items and taking into account existing waste management measures, three so-called Green Deals were adopted to tackle litter from beach-recreation, shipping and fishing. In these Green Deals actions and obligations for government authorities, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and private individuals are brought together. In addition, attention was given to Education programmes, Awareness-raising, specific plastic items like balloons and microplastics in cosmetics and measures to deal with riverine litter (Clean Rivers Initiatives).

A knowledge generating programme has been started to obtain knowledge on distribution, composition and effects from riverine litter and microplastics. Currently this program is being updated. A new program will be adopted in 2022.

Furthermore the Netherlands is implementing OSPAR’s Regional Action Plan on Marine litter that is currently also being updated. Adoption is foreseen in 2022.

Finally, the Dutch and European plastic pacts were launched in 2019 respectively 2020. Goal is to bring together frontrunner companies and governments in the NL and EU to accelerate the plastics economy. Goals are to use

  • 20% less plastics (EUR PP 20% less virgin of which 10% absolute reduction),
  • Use at least 30% (in NL plastic pact 35%) of recycled plastics in new plastics,
  • Design 100% recyclable and reusable products where possible
  • Increase the recycling rate by 25% (EUR PP), or achieve 70% recycling of all plastics used (NL PP)

Legal framework

Name:
There are various legal frameworks that deal with plastics.

Brief description:
The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive aims to protect more effectively the marine environment across Europe. This is the legal framework for the national Program of Measures.

Existing regulation focusses on effective waste management (EU Waste Framework Directive), packaging (EU packaging and packaging waste directive, national EPR schemes) and plastic bags (EU plastic bag directive). In 2021 the implementation of the Single Use Plastics directive will be added to this.

Indicators

The regional sea convention for the North-East Atlantic, OSPAR, has developed several common indicators to monitor marine litter: a) beach litter; b) the stomach contents of fulmars to assess changes in the quantities of floating litter, in the North Sea (this also gives an indication of the impact on biota) and seabed litter. See: Monitoring & Assessing Marine Litter | OSPAR Commission

For the plastic pacts and the transition agenda for plastics we look at the entire supply chain of plastics: recyclability of plastics, reduction in usage (through reuse or refuse), the amount of recycling taking place and what form (chemical or mechanical) and the inputs used (recyclate, virgin, biobased).

Measures

The implementation of the MSFD program of measures, focusing on many sectors, and supported by the implementation of the micro plastics policy program and the Single Use Plastics Directive as well as the great number of local and voluntary (clean-up) initiatives, has led to significant decreasing trends of beach litter and plastics in the stomachs of fulmars. The new MSFD program will continue this wide approach including:

– NL Clean Beaches program: focuses on knowledge exchange, support for collaboration projects and improvement of local collaboration between municipalities and entrepreneurs. A dedicated set of measures must lead to
the structural maintenance of clean beaches in the Netherlands. This includes additional monitoring, custom advice to coastal communities, municipalities and beach pavilions, and innovative beach cleaning pilots. Doe mee met de jaarlijkse Boskalis Beach Cleanup Tour van Stichting De Noordzee – Stichting De Noordzee

– Further development and implementation of River basin approach to litter: cooperation between various stakeholders along different river basins; together with Clean River consortium; further implementation of Litter Collection Regulation (supporting voluntary clean-up operations); pro-actively put litter on agenda of other land- and water management organizations including international river commissions

– Shipping: beside implementation of new Port waste Reception Facilities (PRF): additional measures to tackle persistent floaters by asking for additional prewash procedures

– The approach to litter that ends up in the sea from fisheries builds on the experiences and network of the Green Deal Fisheries for a Clean Sea and is optimally in line with the implementation of the SUP and PRF directives. Additional focus is being devoted to some actions, namely the reduction of
dolly rope and lead in the sea. Includes Fishing for Litter program Fishing for Litter – Netherlands

– Land Sources: the amended and additional MSFD measures concern tackling balloons and pre-production pellets. Because much of the approach to plastic products in litter takes place via the SUP Directive and the Plastic Bags Directive, no additional measures are included in the MSFD.

However, involvement continues from the MSFD with respect to developments around these directives. If necessary, additional measures may be taken in due course.

In 2021, it will be studied how to continue the actions being taken for microplastics and river waste in the framework of the microplastics policy programme. If necessary, additional measures may be taken here too in due course

Measures

Achievements

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws)

Names of actions:
Implementation of the EU SUP directive

Single-use plastics (europa.eu)

Targeted products:
Ban on single use plastic plates, cutlery, cotton buds, balloon sticks.

We do not see any particular trend

Comments:
Too early to have robust data indicating a trend.

Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design

Names of actions:
Contribution to EU policy on sustainable products

Brief description:
In various consultations NL has pushed for an ambitious EU Sustainable Products Initiative, to be published late 2021, to set strong incentives for sustainable products on the EU market.

See also Annex on SPI enclosed

 

Regulation on microplastics

Names of actions:
REACH Restriction on intentionally added microplastics at EU level and a national policy programme on micro plastics

Brief description:
The EU works on a restriction to ban intentionally added micro plastics from products in the EU zone

Policy programme to tackle the biggest sources of micro plastics in the Netherlands (litter, tyres, paint, pellets/nurdles)

We do not see any particular trend

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management (KRA & LAP)

Enforcement of proper waste management system

Names of actions:
National waste management plan (Landelijk Afvalbeheerplan, LAP3), in compliance with the European Waste Framework directive.

Brief description:
The policy framework in LAP3 sets out the national waste prevention and management policies, the objective of waste policies and definitions. It also provides insight into scenarios, monitoring and enforcement. The sector plans in LAP3 elaborate the general policy from the policy framework for specific flows. The sector plans are the assessment framework for the authorisation of waste processing establishments. On march 2nd 2021 the 2nd modification of LAP3 came into force. LAP3 can be found on: https://lap3.nl/

We do not see any particular trend

Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean

Names of actions:
See under 3.2.1

  

Measures

Achievements

Check the following actions in your country.

Choose the most appropriate options to describe the achievements attained through the measures selected, using quantitative information if any.

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Brief description:
Municipalities in NL regularly clean the beaches, especially after busy beach days.

In addition (as mentioned above), a Clean Beaches program focuses on knowledge exchange, support for collaboration projects and improvement of local collaboration between municipalities and entrepreneurs. A dedicated set of measures must lead to the structural maintenance of clean beaches in the Netherlands. This includes additional monitoring, custom advice to coastal communities, municipalities and beach pavilions, and innovative beach cleaning pilots.

Doe mee met de jaarlijkse Boskalis Beach Cleanup Tour van Stichting De Noordzee – Stichting De Noordzee

We see a positive improvement from last two years

We do not see any particular trend

Comments:
As we do not have all figures at hand we have to be cautious but there is a slight decrease over past 10 years (2010-2020)

Numerical data if any:

  • There is 27% less litter on Dutch beaches compared to ten years ag0 (2010).
  • In the period 2011-2020 the trend is decreasing towards an average of 282 of pieces of debris per hundred square meter beach in NL.

Others

Preventing riverine litter from entering the ocean. As part of the NL micro plastic programme we do behavioural change pilots focused on polluters along rivers (recreational users, yachts, sport fishermen, construction works). Next to this we also run two pilots with waste catchment systems in the rivers (Great Bubble Barrier and the Interceptor).

  

Measures

Achievements

Promotion of innovative solutions

Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’)

Names of actions:
Promote the development of waste catchment systems

Brief description:
In NL we run two pilots with waste catchment systems in the rivers, to see what impact it can have on the cleanliness of the river.

  

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution

Names of actions:
Based on top 10 beach litter items and taking into account existing waste management measures in 2015 three so-called Green Deals were adopted in NL to tackle litter from beach-recreation, shipping and fishing, where actions and obligations for government authorities, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and private individuals are brought together. For beach-recreation and fishing these Green Deals have been followed up by more regular programs in 2021.

See also information in 2.1 on the national and EU plastic pacts

Brief description:
See above

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Comments:
New report on Dutch Green Deals shows that marine litter is decreasing – KIMO (kimointernational.org)

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

VANG Buitenshuis, an educational programme focused on waste disposal habits in youngsters.
Education program in Netherlands Onderwijs – VANG Buitenshuis
Zoeken – Zoekresultaten – VANG Buitenshuis

 

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Names of actions:
Communication initiative to promote good waste disposal habits in consumers

Brief description:
Communication initiative with municipalities, companies and NGO´s to promote good waste disposal habits in consumers

  

Measures

Achievements

Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter

Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions:
Monitoring of microplastics in rivers, as part of the microplastics program.

Monitoring of microplastics in the ocean, as part of OSPAR.

Brief description:
For microplastics in rivers, Rijkswaterstaat is developing a monitoring system.

  

Others

The Netherlands is actively involved in OSPAR’s ICG Marine Litter (one of the co-convenors) and in the EU MSFD Technical Group on Marine litter. Within these groups common approaches are developed on monitoring, assessment and measures. In addition NL is active in the Arctic, supporting the development of the Marine Litter Action Plan under the wing of the Arctic Council/PAME working group and for example through the funding and lauch of a special capsule at the island of Texel, coordinated by Wageningen University & Research. The live position of this ‘Plastic in a Bottle’ capsule can be tracked online and shows the route that plastic waste may travel once it enters the North Sea. In March 2021 the NL Arctic Ambassador gave a keynote speech on the importance of combatting marine litter e.g. by transitioning to a circular economy at the Arctic Council’s International Symposium on Plastics in the Arctic and sub-Arctic Region.

 

Challenges

Data collection related to marine plastic litter

Best practices

National level

National Plastic pact with citizens, companies, cities and countries

Plastic Pact NL

Private sector

Operation Clean Sweep, which is now being converted to a formalized certification scheme.

International cooperation

At present the following partners/countries participate in the European Plastics Pact according to Ellen MacArthur Foundation ( source / 13-12-2020 ).

  • Europe

European Plastics Pact

Home – European Plastics Pact

As of April 2021

The 147 signatories of the European Plastics Pact come from 21 countries in Europe and include:

  • 15 National governments
  • 19 Packaging manufacturers
  • 11 Waste management businesses
  • 9 Plastics manufacturers
  • 9 Brands (non-food)
  • 6 Brands (food)
  • 4 Retailers

North America

South America

Africa

Contact details

Jennefer Baarn jennefer.baarn@minienw.nl
Jaco Tavenier jaco.tavenier@minienw.nl

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