Tunisia bans the use of non-compliant plastic bags from September, and Czech President Zeman signs a plastic restriction order

The Institute of Biodegradable Materials reports that Tunisia, located at the northernmost tip of the African continent, has joined the ranks of banning plastic bags. 

On August 31, the country’s Ministry of Environment issued a statement saying that in accordance with relevant laws and regulations:

Non-compliant plastic bags will be banned from circulation nationwide from September 1.

A statement from the Tunisian Ministry of Environment stated that according to previously issued regulations, the Tunisian government will prohibit the circulation and use of plastic bags that do not meet the standard thickness, have excessive heavy metal content, and do not meet biodegradability requirements in all business premises.

The Ministry of Environment of Tunisia hopes to significantly reduce the pollution caused by plastic bags to the local environment by the end of 2024.

Plastic pollution in Tunisia

In recent years, plastic pollution has been an increasingly serious problem in North African countries. Randomly discarded plastic bags have become a basic sight in Tunisia. 

Even entire trees are covered with plastic bags. The country's land and marine ecosystems have been completely destroyed by plastic items. pollute. 

Humanity's over-reliance on single-use plastic bags has resulted in serious damage to the environment. 

In the case of Tunisia, the country has consumed more than 4.2 billion single-use plastic bags, 1.2 billion of which were brought into the country in informal bags. These plastic bags are small in size and the people's habit is to throw them away after use.

In fact, Tunisia tried to implement a plastic bag ban in 2016, but unfortunately it failed due to opposition from the business community. Although it failed, it has led major supermarkets across the country to no longer provide free plastic bags and replace them with paid durable bags, greatly reducing the use of disposable plastic bags.

Tunisia’s future challenges

In addition to the problem of single-use plastic bags, Tunisia also faces many major environmental challenges.

For example, the use of plastic straws and plastic molds for commercial packaging is still very large. Furthermore, Tunisia’s overreliance on old-fashioned heavy industry, including the production of phosphates, renders entire land and coastline of the country unusable.

While the government has made some progress in limiting pollution, any measures seen as potentially damaging to industry are likely to be controversial in a country with an unemployment rate of just 15%.

Czech President Zeman signs plastic restriction order

Czech News Agency reported on August 17 that in accordance with relevant EU laws and regulations, Czech President Zeman signed a ban on the production and sale of disposable plastic tableware and straws on the 16th. The ban will take effect on the first day of the month following the date of promulgation of the law.