Ukraine plans to ban plastic bags
Some bags can be used as primary packaging for fresh fish and meat.
To minimize harm to the environment, a bill 2051-1 on limiting the circulation of plastic bags on the territory of Ukraine was registered in Parliament
On October 16, this bill was considered at the relevant Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management and agreed upon, according to the government portal.
In turn, the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection supported the restriction of the circulation of plastic bags on the territory of Ukraine. At the same time, it is working on the development of a law to ban single-use plastic products.
What was supported by the Committee?
All packages, depending on the characteristics, are divided into types. Retail and restaurant facilities are prohibited from distributing ultra-light plastic bags, lightweight and oxo-degradable. But there is an exception – ultra-light plastic bags of certain sizes can be used as primary packaging for fresh fish and meat, ice, and bulk products.
Plastic bags that do not meet the requirements established by this law must be disposed of, but not at the expense of the manufacturer, but of the one who purchased them for trade.
Who will oversee compliance with the law?
The enforcement of the law will be monitored by the central executive authorities implementing the state policy in the field of state control over
compliance with consumer protection laws. This body is obliged to notify business entities that distribute plastic bags that they are considering cases of violation of legal requirements by them at least five working days before the date of consideration of the case.
Which countries have already banned plastic bags?
Thirty-three governments have introduced a complete ban, and another 53 countries have introduced a partial ban or significant tax on the use of plastic bags. First of all, the ban was introduced in Singapore, where large-scale floods related to “plastic pollution” occurred in the early 2000s. In Britain, for example, bags are used that decompose from 20 days to 4 years with minimal harm to the environment. But Denmark has introduced high taxes on the distribution of plastic bags in stores, reducing their use by 90%. Whereas in Finland they decided to place machines for collecting plastic bags in retail chains and send them for recycling.