The government wants to financially stimulate the transition from plastic bags to paper bags

The government is ready to consider financial incentives to accelerate the transition to paper packaging. One of the incentives for producers of environmentally friendly packaging may be cheap loans. This was stated by Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Rumas, reports the press service of the government.

 

Today the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services in cooperation with Rumas discussed the development of technologies and organization of production of biodegradable packaging from plant raw materials.

 

According to Natalia Grintsevich, DIRECTOR of the "Operator of Secondary Material Resources," the share of recycled municipal waste in Belarus is planned to increase up to 50% by 2035. Now this indicator is at the level of 20%. At the same time, she drew attention to the fact that it's becoming increasingly difficult to process waste. If in 1972 there were 1.4 million tons of municipal waste, then in 2018 - 3.1 million tons. In addition, polymeric packaging replaces glass, metal and paper, which are easier to recycle. [ADD-1]

 

According to chairman of the concern Bellesbumprom Yuri Nazarov, the Belarusian factories are ready to increase production and fully meet the country's needs in paper bags. However, this requires the product to be in demand in the market. So far, polyethylene bags are cheaper, which means that paper bags cannot replace them quickly.

 

"It is necessary that there should be competition in this sphere, then there will be order with prices," Rumas said. According to him, small and medium businesses could be more active in this niche. The government is ready to encourage an accelerated transition to paper packaging. One of the incentives may be cheap loans for producers of environmentally friendly packaging.

 

Earlier it was reported that the government is also thinking about replacing plastic tableware in public catering facilities. This issue should be worked out before October 1. However, the issue of plastic, harmful to the environment - a complex one, and the transition will not happen at once, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade.

 

It is worth recalling that in Belarus, the directive № 7 was adopted in 2019, which refers to a phased reduction in the number of polyethylene packaging and its replacement with safe packaging, including glass and paper.

 

In late March, the European Parliament introduced a ban on disposable plastic plates, containers, glasses, dishes for fast food, forks, knives and spoons in the EU. Taboo is also imposed on the production of cocktail straws and cotton swabs. The law will come into force in 2021.