TIRANA, July 3 /ATA/ / Today is International Plastic Bag Free Day, an opportunity to raise public awareness about staying away from the use of plastic bags given their risk and impact on the environment.
The Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, said on Monday that this day is an awareness to say “No” to the big polluters of the planet.”
“For a year, Albania has banned single-use plastic bags, while the Task Force is on the ground every day to control compliance with the law and punish anyone who continues the same old story,” Kumbaro said in a post on social media.
Controls are ongoing pursuant to the law “On integrated waste management”, as well as the CoM decision “On determining detailed measures and institutions responsible for the prohibition of use, marketing, production, importation or entry into the territory of Republic of Albania of plastic carrier bags.”
Under the decision, any person who puts on the market, produces, imports or introduces into the territory of the Republic of Albania plastic carrier bags, as well as oxo-degradable or oxo-biodegradable plastic carrier bags, is punished with a fine in the amount of 500,000 (five hundred thousand) lek and the seizure of prohibited plastic bags.
Worldwide, only 9% of waste is recycled, while 73% of marine litter is plastic.
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