8. April 2019 at 13:26

Slovakia will stop using single-use plastic

The country wants to become a leader in fighting plastic waste in central Europe, said the environment minister.

Illustrative stock photo Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
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Slovakia will put a definite stop to the use of single-use plastic products by January 2021. By introducing the so-called anti-plastic measures, the country will ban the use of nine types of products, such as single-use plastic plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws, sticks for balloons, cotton buds, food containers and two types of glasses.

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This step is in compliance with the EU regulation to stop using single-use plastics. Slovakia is expected to implement the measures much sooner than the deadline, said Environment Minister László Sólymos (Most-Híd).

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“I’m convinced that Slovakia has to stop being a perpetual catcher-up in the fight against waste,” Sólymos added, as quoted by the SITA newswire, stressing this is especially necessary in the case of plastics.

A leader in central Europe?

Slovakia has the ambition to become a leader in this area in central Europe. The country has already adopted a law to ban the use of single-use bags and will soon adopt a law on plastic bottles and cans deposits. Moreover, the ministry also wants to work on the methodology of supporting the no-package shops in Slovakia and charge for all types of plastic bags, he added.

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Currently, up to 14,000 tonnes of no-packaging plastic products are imported to Slovakia, mostly plastic straws, plates and cutlery. These products can be replaced by more ecologic alternatives. Searching for these alternatives also opens doors for Slovak entrepreneurs, according to Sólymos.

The anti-plastic measure has already been implemented in the amendment to the law on waste, said Peter Šimurka of the waste management department of the Environment Ministry. It will soon be submitted for interdepartmental review, and the government is expected to discuss it this autumn, SITA reported.

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