G7 Plastics Workshop Microplastics and leakage to water … · 2018. 4. 10. · Microplastics and leakage to water courses and the oceans 23.03.2018 G7 Plastics Workshop 2 Plastics

German Environment Agency

Microplastics and leakage to water-courses

and the oceans

G7 Plastics Workshop

Stefanie WernerMarine Protection Unit [email protected]. Claus Gerhard BannickWaste Water Technology Research

@ Jan van Franeker, IMARES

What are we talking about?

Microplastics and leakage to water courses and the oceans

23.03.2018 G7 Plastics Workshop 2

Plastics

Rubber

Thermoplastics

Thermosets

Elastomers

Waste

Litter

Macroplastic (above 25mm)1

Mesoplastic (5mm to 25mm)

Large microplastic (1mm to 5mm)

Small Microplastic (1µm to 1mm)

Any solid particle or object unsolublein water in the respective size

Note: The defined dimension is related tothe longest diameter of the particle

Note: The particles may show various shapes,e.g. fibre fragments, foils fragments

Microplastics are:� intentionally used in products or� not intentionally used but generated from the use of products or� coming from fragmentation/degradation of larger plastic fragments1 - ISO-report - Plastics in the Environment — Current state of knowledge and methodologies

Sources and pathways




Impacts of marine litter


Determining and assessing microplastics



• Still missing: an international accepted definition, work on definition for plastics in the environment ongoing in ISO TC 61 SC 14 WG4

• Work on harmonization of investigation methods and sampling strategies ongoing in various fora, including ISO/CEN, GESAMP, JPI Oceans, EU TG Marine Litter, Regional Seas Conventions

• Establishment of common indicators for assessment of microplastics in the marine environment (requested by MSFD COM DEC, developed by EU MS and RSCs)

Annual emission of MP in the North-East Atlantic (OSPA R)



MP in Marine Litter Action Plans



G7/G20 REGIONAL (OSPAR)

Investigating sustainable and cost-effective solutions to

reduce and prevent sewage and storm water related

waste, including micro plastics entering the

marine environment.

Promote effective waste water treatment and storm

water management.

Investigate and promote with appropriate industries

the use of BAT and BEP to develop cost-effective

solutions to reduce and prevent sewage and storm

water related waste entering the marine environment,

including micro particles.

Significantly reduce the use of micro beads and single

use plastics and where appropriate phase them out.

Encouraging industry to develop sustainable packaging

and remove ingredients from products to gain

environmental benefits, such as a voluntary phase-out

of microbeads.

Evaluate all products and products that include primary

microplastics and act, if appropriate to reduce their

impact on the marine environment.

Engage with all appropriate sectors (manufacturing,

retail etc.) to explore the possibility of a voluntary

agreement to phase out the use of micro plastics as a

component in personal care and cosmetic products.

Should a voluntary agreement prove not to be

sufficient, prepare a proposal for OSPAR to call on the

EU to introduce appropriate measures to achieve a

100% phasing out of micro plastics in personal care and

cosmetic products.

Promoting best practises along the whole plastics

manufufacturing, and value chain from production to

transport, e.g. aiming for zero pelllet loss.

Significant reduce the loss of plastic pellets during

production and transport.

Promote initiatives and exchange of best practice

aiming at zero pellet loss along the whole plastics

manufacturing chain from production to transport.

MP in European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy


ANNEX I – List of future EU measures to implement th e strategy

Actions to monitor and curb marine litter more effectively:- improved monitoring and mapping of marine litter, including microplastics,on the basis of EU harmonised methods

- support to EU MS on the implementation of their PoMs on ML under MSFD

Actions to curb microplastics pollution:- start the process to restrict the intentional addition of microplastics toproducts via REACH

- examination of policy options for reducing unintentioanl release of MP from tyres, textiles and paints

- development of measures to reduce plastic pellet spillage- evaluation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive: assessing effectiveness as regards microplastics capture and removal


Global connection to wastewater collection (UN Statisti cs Devision)



Changes in wastewater treatment in regions of Europe (E UA)



Urban Waste Water treatmant in the EU



2 000 - 10 000 pe 11%

10 001 - 100 000 pe

38%

sup 100 000 pe

51%Agglomerations

2 000 pe

and more

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Total generated Load Total treatment plants capacity

mil

llio

n p

op

ula

tio

n e

qu

iva

len

t

Total EU waste water load per agglomeration

size, compared to treatment plants capacity

The EU reached a high level of compliance by 2014, with rates of:• 94.7 % for collection (either through collecting systems or the alternative individual or

other appropriate systems (IAS));• 88.7 % for secondary treatment;• 84.5 % for more stringent treatment than secondary treatment, removing nitrogen (N)

and/or phosphorus (P), when required. IAS should provide an ‘equivalent level ofenvironmental protection’ according to the UWWTD.

Relationships: Plastic – waste water – environment (in ge neral)



Treated wastewater surface waters, groundwater (recharge), soils(water reuse), marine waters

Mixed wastewater overflow surface waters, marine waters

Waste water from separate sewers soils, surface waters

Sewage sludge soils (fertilizer)

https://www.sbmc.or.jp/english/050427/Sewerage_System_in_Tokyo_2.html


• Adressing MP in the forthcoming revision of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

• Development/establishment of a test standard for the quantification of MP in WastewaterTreatment

• Revision of Sewage Sludge Directive

• Improved stormwater treatment

• Ambitious limit values for plastic in theEuropean Fertilizer Ordinance

• Establishment of monitoring programs of MP in various environmental compartments and plants using harmonized methodologies to evaluate currentsituation and effectivenes of measures taken

• Close coordination of actions taken by Japan, the EU and other G7/G20 partners, Regional Seas Convention and other parties engaged


Outlook: further measures on wastewater treatment

After huge precipitation events in Berlin

Activities of the Interest Group „Plastic“ of the EU-EPA Network



Chairs of IG Plastic:Dr. Lilian Busse, UBA, GermanyDr. Bettina Rechenberg, UBA, Germany

German Environment Agency

Thanks for listening !Questions ?

WWSTEFANIE.WERNERW.OSPAR.ORGWWW.UMWELTBUNDESAMT.DE

[email protected]@uba.dewww.umweltbundesamt .de

@ Trevail et. al 2014

Documents

G7 Plastics Workshop Microplastics and leakage to water … · 2018. 4. 10. · Microplastics and leakage to water courses and the oceans 23.03.2018 G7 Plastics Workshop 2 Plastics