Plastic bags still free of charge in Kosovo

Although authorities in Kosovo had confirmed that by January of this year plastic bags would be made at payment, such a move has not started to apply.

The reason for this measure's non-application, according to Deputy Environment Minister, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Linda Cavdarbasa is the total non-finalisation of an administrative directive regulating the issue.

This administrative guide for ambalage and waste regulates not only the issue of plastic bags but also the deposit remuneration system for bottles [jam, cans and plastics] and we have encountered some shortcomings in this system's arrangement. So we've been forced to postpone the adoption of this instruction until we can fix the rest of this”, she says.

Chevdarbasha, in a proposal for Radio Free Europe, does not give any timetable when administrative instruction can enter into force. But, she adds, after the changes made, administrative instruction must once again come to public discussion and then go to Government.

According to Cavdardi, setting a price for plastic bags will be a transitional phase, as the goal is for plastic bags to be removed in the future.

For nature plastic bags are harmful, and they take many years to decompose.

In addition, when plastic bags are destroyed under the sun, toxic substances are released to the earth.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), each minute, worldwide, one million plastic bags are used.

According to data from the Kosovo Statistics Agency, 485 thousand tonnes of municipal waste have been collected in 2021, including plastic bags.

Over a year, the average per capita waste is 273 kilograms, or 0.75 kilograms per day.

Some citizens surveyed by Radio Free Europe give differing opinions on administrative instruction that would make payment plastic bags.

The government is seeking benefits from the people. Every citizen with small salaries can't even buy the bags. Better to take a basket with us”, says Ilmi Soeva from Pristina.

For me, it wouldn't be good to get paid because these bags I used both for waste and other” needs, says Sylejman Mustafa, another citizen in his 50s.

Full plastic bag stop

The introduction of a tax on the use of plastic materials, such as bottles and plastic bags, was also envisioned in the Kosovo Strategy for Environment 2013-2022. But this was not accomplished within this period of strategy.

Environmental Activist Erzagon Shala é kadiu tells Radio Free Europe that Kosovo is being delayed in making decisions to positively influence environmental protection.

She recalls that since 2013 the issue of plastic bags has been under discussion, and, as Shala Cadiu says, there has been enough time to start applying any measures that would affect reducing the use of plastic bags.

The last “, Kosovo is delayed with making such decisions that have an impact on changing citizens' behavior. Pollution, like the concept, even this year is one of the main problems, which at least is being discussed and addressed in proper forms”, says Shala-Kadiu.

These actions, such as reducing plastic bags, adds Shala édiu, need Kosovo on its integration path.

Kosovo is lagging behind on a very simple issue, in a very positive issue for the” environment, it stresses.

Meanwhile, even a group of civil society organisations working in the environment in September last year in the report, entitled “Ecological destruction ʹ Time to act” had called on government institutions to act immediately and with concrete steps towards improving the environmental situation and improving public health.

In this respect, in addition, they had recommended making decisions about limiting or stopping the full use of plastic bags.

For Kosovo, plastic production plays an important role in industrial development. According to data from the Kosovo Statistics Agency for 2019 in the “rubber and plastic production”, close to 3,000 people in 481 companies were employed.

Short memory, factory owner “SCAMPA”, which deals with the production of plastic bags, says administrative instruction that will be implemented will negatively affect plastic bags producers. But, he says they have agreed with these upcoming changes.

However, he adds, displacement from the use of plastic bags should be made only for bags a use, meanwhile, to set the price.

“We export bags to Europe and Europe take bags, but it's thicker, for example 30 or 50 microns, while only bags for a use, very money, these have been banned in Europe and these are banned in Kosovo, and these fat ones get paid to”, says Zvey.

He says that for these transitional phases, which are taking place in this sector, all producers would have to have the help of the state.

“GIZ], where it is trying to split a budget for new production technologies”, he says.

By July 2021, the European Union has strengthened the directive that prohibits plastic for use.

The plastic products for a use include dishes, glasses, drinking sticks and those bags that, according to the EU, turn into microplastics and remain in the environment long.

These plastics, according to EU estimates, make up about 70 percent of Europe's maritime waste.

The EU's ultimate goal is that by 2030, any remaining plastics are reused or recycled.

Kosovo remains the only country in the region in which plastic bags for a purpose are served free of charge for consumers.

Northern Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro are some of the countries you have to pay for a plastic bag for.

Meanwhile, Albania from last year has stopped using plastic bags. / REL/