Consumers will be charged five cents per bag from today, as a measure of harmonization with a European directive aimed at reducing plastics and encouraging reuse. The European Directive requires Member States to reduce the consumption of plastic bags, to a maximum of 90 by the end of 2019 and to 40 per capita by the end of 2025.
The Department of Environment has already started a campaign which will last until July 8.
In statements to KYPE, the Environment Commissioner Ioanna Panagiotou stated that thin plastic bags for food, such as meat and vegetables, are excluded from the bags.
The Environment Commissioner pointed out that the difference between the purchase price of the bag from the supermarket and the sale to the consumer, will be entered in a special fund handled by GREENDOT and will be controlled by the Department of the Environment. The money will be used for public information actions. Cloth bags can be purchased for the public, spots can be made and brochures can be issued to raise public awareness about plastic reduction.
Referring to the burden of the environment from plastic, Ms. Panagiotou referred to a huge problem, pointing out that by 2050 our seas and oceans will be full of plastic instead of fish.
He noted that there should be a reduction not only in the plastic bag but also in all types of disposable plastic, such as straws, plastic coffee cups, cutlery, dishes and other items.
"Plastic destroys the environment, it takes five seconds to produce, five minutes to use and then it takes five hundred years to dissolve," he added.
The Executive Secretary of the Pancyprian Supermarkets Association, Andreas Hatziadamou, said that the supermarkets have been ready for a very long time for the implementation of this measure.
The supermarkets, he noted, have already been provided with reusable bags that customers can choose and the systems and cash registers have been harmonized for the implementation of the measure.
The President of the Cyprus Consumers' Association, Stamatis Rossidis, stated that the aim is to convince consumers that the measure is applied for the protection of the environment and for a change of mentality in our markets.
He also said that measures should be taken soon for other types of plastics such as plastic straws, glasses, plates and more.
Source: KYPE