On January 1, the law "On limiting the circulation of plastic bags" entered into force in Ukraine, thanks to which bags up to 50 microns thick will disappear from supermarkets, food establishments, etc.
One of the alternatives to such bags is biodegradable, which can contribute to the development of composting, says the press release of the public organization Zero Waste Lviv.
The ban applies to all ultra-thin, thin and collapsible plastic bags, in particular for packing ice, bulk products, meat, and fresh fish. Ukrainians are advised to use biodegradable, paper or plastic bags with a thickness of more than 50 microns.
The press release noted that since the first municipal composting station in Ukraine is operating in Lviv, the decision to limit plastic bags and switch to biodegradable ones is very important for the city.
The executive director of Zero Waste Lviv, Iryna Myronova, emphasized that such bags can be used to collect organic waste, as they are compostable.
"The presence of biodegradable bags will not only simplify the separate collection of organic waste and, we hope, will encourage even more citizens to participate in the separate collection of organics. In addition, the spread of biodegradable bags will significantly simplify the introduction of this practice in other cities and will be an incentive for the construction of composting stations in Ukraine", she said.
The authors noted that ultra-light bags harm the environment. They are carried by the wind, they get stuck on tree branches, they clog sewer drains, etc. In addition, polyethylene bags are made from petroleum products, and the main global supplier of oil and gas is the Russian Federation.
They emphasized that organic waste that ends up in a landfill also has a global negative impact and is a factor in climate change. Landfills account for 20% of global emissions of methane, a more dangerous greenhouse gas than carbon. And separate collection and composting is an effective tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
"In addition to biodegradable, reusable bags can also be alternatives to plastic bags, and it is convenient to buy ready-made food in your own containers or trays," ecoactivists emphasized.
As EcoPolitic reported earlier, from December 10, 2021, the first official ones began to operate restricting the circulation of plastic bags on Ukrainian territory. The Verkhovna Rada adopted the corresponding law on June 1.
