On January 26, 2021, "Ban of Plastic Bags - Environmental Outcome or Failed Decision?" press conference dedicated to the ban on the sale of plastic bags up to 50 microns thick from January 1 in commercial objects was held at "Article 3" Club. Inga Zarafyan, President of EcoLur Informational NGO, Arthur Ghavalyan, Deputy Head of Strategic Policy Department of Environment Ministry and Marine Ohanjanyan, Program Coordinator of Eco Garbage NGO, spoke about the legal change and its environmental consequences.
Arthur Ghavalyan mentioned that instead of bags up to 50 microns thick, the thicker versions currently offered in stores serve for a longer period. "They are torn later, they go out of order later, they can be used dozens of times. In this way we reduce one bag thrown into the environment," he mentioned.
Inga Zarafyan mentioned that the most serious problem is how much the ban will solve the problem of plastic. “The body initiating administrative proceedings is the local self-government bodies. Already on the first day of inspection there are accumulation and management problems. "Serious monitoring is needed. The emphasis is on sales. We have mechanisms that should be used in the case of the business that produces that plastic, there are mechanisms that should be used specifically. There is a very serious chain here, if we do not study that chain, the solution can bring a small change," she said.
"The representative of Environment Ministry noted that the control mechanisms have already been laid down. Over 60 violations have been recorded under Code of Administrative Offenses," he said. According to him, the alternative to the forbidden bags are cloth bags. "We will also start importing biodegradable plastic raw materials to Armenia, which from decomposition turn into water, small amount of carbon dioxide and biomass," Arthur Ghavalyan mentioned.
According to Marine Ohanjanyan, there was a rather negative reaction to the adoption of the law, as a thick bag is used instead of a thin bag in stores. " In our opinion, it is important because it will put into circulation an idea that people will start talking about it, will reconsider their behavior. But the transition had to be phased in, and before the law could be passed, there had to be large-scale information with the public. We think there is a lack of work with the public to raise awareness," she explained.
In response, Arthur Ghavalyan noted that many discussions were held before the adoption of the law. "We have also met with businesses. Before the law came into force, dozens of TV reports were prepared, work is still being done, new videos have been shot, and information campaigns are planned in the regions," he said.
The latter also mentioned that the ban on the sale of bags is in itself an incentive for other circles. Tax Code sets the lowest current interest rate at 1.5% for processors and sellers of secondary raw materials. And for manufacturers of cloth bags, this barrier creates a bigger market to create, to have a wider range of products. The incentive factor for a citizen is that in supermarkets they pay 30 AMD per bag, while you can buy a cloth bag for 1000 AMD and use it for many years.”
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January 26, 2022 at 16:35