During the past week, SIMS inspectors in cooperation with the Consumer Protection Agency carried out controls at commercial shops to see if things are in accordance with the criteria defined in the decision of the government.

“During the controls, there were seized about 40 kg of bags in violation of the legislation”, informs SIMS.

SIMS, as an enforcement institution of the government’s initiative to remove plastic bags from use, appeals to all subjects to implement the legal obligations arising from the implementation of this government decision, as controls will be intensified throughout the country.

In mid-November, the prime minister ordered the establishment of a Taskforce to ban the use, marketing, production and import of single-use plastic carrier bags.

Economic operators, as of June 1, 2022, are prohibited from using or offering plastic bags with dimensions smaller than 50 cm in length and 24 cm in width (not including the width of the folds) with a carrying capacity of less than 10 kg, with a thickness below 70 microns.

The changes in the law “On integrated waste management” for the prohibition of the use of single-use plastic bags, foresee penalties in case of non-compliance with this government decision. /p.s./

Chief Inspector at the State Inspectorate of Market Surveillance Gazmend Osmani said that the ban on disposable plastic bags is in favor of environmental protection and a better future for our children.

Law enforcement will be carried out under strict monitoring by the inspectors and beginning from tomorrow there will be applied fines on violators of the law.

“The amount of the fine ranges from 500 thousand ALL, up to 1.5 million ALL. But, there are also more severe measures than that for the law offenders. In the first place, all the goods will be seized because they will be considered illegal. And if this is repeated, the activity license for violators of the law will be revoked”, said Osmani.

Throughout the month of June, there have been conducted inspections in various business operators, raising awareness about the prohibition of holding disposable bags based on the decision of the government no. 367 dated 30.05.2022 “On determining the detailed measures and institutions responsible for prohibiting the use, putting on the market, production, import, or introduction into the territory of the Republic of Albania of plastic holding bags as well as oxo-degradable plastic holding bags or oxo-biodegradable bags”.

Economic operators are prohibited from using or offering plastic carrying bags with dimensions less than 50 cm in length and 24 cm wide with a carrying capacity of less than 10 kg, with a thickness of less than 70 microns.

From an assessment made in the framework of the national strategy for plastic waste management and recycling, in 2016 it was estimated that in Albania were used 6-9 kg / person / year disposable plastic items, mainly plastic carrying bags. Estimating the weight of a bag and the fact that the average value in Albania is that a person uses about 3 bags per day, it is estimated that for a resident population of approximately 3 million inhabitants, the amount of plastic bags is about 3.2 billion bags per year or , approximately 26 280 tons / year.

In the framework of a “Marine Waste Management in Albania” pilot project, there were made seasonal measurements in the estuaries of two of the main rivers of the country, the Buna and Ishëm rivers. Observation of these two rivers has shown that plastics in general and plastic bags, in particular, constitute the main waste deposited on the coast through river flows.

As a result of the observation in an area of ​​100 m2, in the Buna delta, it has resulted that out of the total of about 46 kg of waste, which were found deposited, about 42.3 kg were plastic / polystyrene waste (mainly plastic carrying bags).

The same data come from measurements in the Ishëm delta. In an area of ​​100 m2, out of the total of about 84.5 kg of waste, which are stored in Cape Rodon, about 52.4 kg are plastic / polystyrene waste (mainly plastic holding bags).

These data show that plastic carrying bags are one of the main polluters of the Albanian environment, both in territorial extent and in quantity, indicating that measures to find a definitive solution are as necessary, justified and an emergency./p.s./

“The inspection body started supervision on the ground following the entry into force of the decision to ban the use, production, import, or entry into the territory of the Republic of Albania of single-use plastic holding bags”, said the Inspectorate.

Beginning from June 1, economic operators are prohibited from using and offering plastic holding bags with dimensions less than 50 cm in length and 24 cm wide with a holding capacity of less than 10 kg, with a thickness of less than 70 microns.

In cases when the subjects do not comply with the requirements set out in this decision, the Inspectorate prohibits the trade of plastic bags, proceeds with sequestration and taking appropriate measures according to legal provisions.

The amount of the fine ranges from 500 thousand ALL, up to 1.5 million ALL. But, there are also more severe measures than that for offenders. In the first place, the seizure of all goods to be found because it is considered illegal. If this is repeated, the activity license for offenders will be revoked.

Disposable plastic bags are considered as the main factor of pollution in the environment. In Albania alone, it was estimated that an average of 3.2 billion were in circulation during a year./a.a/p.s./

During an ATA observation in the markets and supermarkets of Tirana, there is noticed the removal of disposable plastic bags that do not meet the proper conditions.

The consumers who go to the markets have taken bags of cloth with them for carrying the goods they buy.

Mira, a 70-year-old woman from Tirana, said that, “It was a right decision as the bags that were traded had a very poor quality. I have always used bags of cloth for shopping.”

While Andi, a young trader said that, “Since yesterday, we have removed the disposable plastic bags and citizens come with bags of cloth or buy bags that are within the allowed norms.”

This measure taken by the government aims to reduce harmful plastics for a clean environment that helps develop tourism and the country’s economy.

Every year, in Albania are used about 3.2 billion plastic bags or about 26 thousand tons per year. Plastic bag waste ends up in the food we eat and the air we breathe every day.

Environmental risk has made many governments around the world aware and react quickly in the last decade.

In this context, the Government of Albania decided that from June 1, 2022, the production, import and use of plastic bags to be prohibited by law.

The Assembly approved the draft law that provides for fines of up to 1.5 million ALL for importers, manufacturers and traders of plastic bags./k.s//a.a/p.s./

In context of the awareness activities with schools and on the threshold of the entry into force of the law against the use of plastic bags, the Administration of Kukës Protected Areas organized today a cleaning activity with school students in the Shishtavec area that is within the Korab-Koritnik Nature Park.

Also on the threshold of the summer tourist season, there was placed the orientation board of the color trail, one of the most touristic destinations of Korab-Koritnik Nature Park.

The government of Albania has decided to ban the production, import and use of plastic bags beginning from June 1, 2022. The Assembly has approved the draft law that provides for fines of up to 1.5 million ALL for importers, manufacturers and traders of plastic bags. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that this is a great environmental and cultural change.

The head of government invited the citizens, through a video published on social networks, to become part of this change that starts on June 1, in our motherland.

“Good morning and with this video we invite you to become part of the great environmental and cultural change, which starts on June 1 with the ban of single-use plastic bags, for an Albania worthy of its motherland name”, said PM Rama.

Single-use plastic bags will be banned in Albania beginning from June 1, 2022.

Every year, in Albania, there are used about 3.2 billion plastic bags or approximately twenty-six thousand tons per year.

Plastic bag waste ends up in the food we eat and the air we breathe every day.

Many governments around the world have become aware of the environmental risk that the plastic bags pose and reacted quickly in the last decade.

In this context, the Government of Albania has decided that beginning from June 1, 2022, the production, import and use of plastic bags is prohibited by law.

Meanwhile, the Assembly has approved the draft law that provides for fines of up to 1.5 million ALL for importers, manufacturers and traders of plastic bags. /j.p/p.s./

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro said that, “After this date, it will be illegal for shops or restaurants to give single-use plastic bags when you buy something”.

Through an awareness video, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment reminded the citizens, “never to forget the shopping bag. So, choose to use reusable bags whenever you go shopping. Say no to plastic bags.”

Every year, in Albania, there are used about 3.2 billion plastic bags, or approximately twenty-six thousand tons per year. Likewise, plastic bag waste ends up in the food we eat and the air we breathe in every day – even in these moments.

Environmental risk has made many governments around the world aware and they have decided to react quickly in the last decade.

In this context, the Government of Albania has decided to ban and prohibit by law the production, import and use of plastic bags. The Assembly approved the draft law that provides for fines of up to 1.5 million ALL for importers, manufacturers and traders of plastic bags. /j.p/p.s./

During discussion of the amended law “On Integrated Waste Management” in the Assembly Committee for Production Activity, Trade and Environment, Kumbaro said that, “Through this law is provided the way of waste treatment, dividing them into categories and processes, from their starting point to the last”.

Kumbaro said that one of the categories of waste, with wide and daily use by every citizen is the plastic bag.

“We propose amendments to three articles of the amended law “On Integrated Waste Management”. Specifically, in Article 29 of this law, we ask to add a paragraph, ‘use, manufacture and importation of plastic bags in the territory of Albania is prohibited, be they oxo-biodegradable plastic bags’, said Kumbaro.

Kumbaro said that Article 2 of this law provides for the increase of sanctions arising from non-compliance with the changes in Article 29.

According to her, fines from 1 million lekë to 1.5 million lekë are imposed on anyone who imports into the territory of Albania plastic bags whether oxodegradable and oxo-biodegradable plastic bags.

Every person who uses plastic bags in the territory of Albania, oxodegradable and oxo-biodegradable plastic bags, is punished with a fine from 30 thousand to 100 thousand lekë.

“The legal initiative joins the global movement, and is in line with EU directives, where different countries are taking various measures to ban the use of plastic bags. The measures taken aim to reduce harmful plastics for a clean environment that helps develop tourism and the country’s economy,” said Kumbaro. /j.p/p.s./

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi said that, “The year 2022 will be the year of a great change for the environment in Albania and for the mentality of each of us every time we leave home to go shopping. Beginning from June 1, 2022, through the amendments that we have presented to the Assembly, Albania aims to ban the use, production, trade and import of disposable plastic carrier bags”.

Kumbaro stressed that the challenge of fighting polluting plastics is already universal.

According to her, many other countries have started or are in the process of banning the use of disposable plastic packaging.

“France has already banned the use of disposable plastic packaging in the food market beginning from January 1 of the year that has just begun. Scotland will ban from June this year every kind of plastic product with one use”, she said./r.e/p.s./

During the presentation of the political program, today in the Albanian Parliament, Rama said that, “The new governing majority, starting from next year’s draft budget, will pursue a non-negotiable principle with the distribution of funds to municipalities”.

“Cleanliness first, then everything else. The increase of consumption, construction activity and tourism cannot be associated with the increase of dirt, with the increase of the presence of garbage in our common areas”, said Rama.

According to him, municipalities that do not properly clean and manage garbage will not receive any kind of unconditional grant from the state budget. No new investment is worthwhile to any community unless the cleanliness of the environment is guaranteed in the first place and cleanliness must become the backbone of every local government and mayor.

“We want to make Albania of 2030, champions of the Western Balkans in tourism. But in order to achieve this ambitious objective, we must guarantee cleanliness,” Rama said.

“In June next year, the final ban on the use of plastic bags for personal and family consumption in Albania will enter into force. Plastic bags have become a nightmare and an independent Albania of them will be an Albania more ready to win the challenge of the future. The production, sale and introduction of plastic bags for individual use in Albania will be sanctioned with zero tolerance “, he stressed./a.a/p.s./