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The Armenian government approved on Thursday a draft law that would ban the use of single-use plastic bags in the country from January 1, 2022.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Deputy Minister of Environment Irina Ghaplanyan said that a step-by-step ban on the use of plastic bags started back in July 2018. Under the Armenia-EU agreement, Armenia has also committed to establish the principles and foundations of the framework economy in Armenia, which is to reduce as much as possible the volume of garbage dumped in the country today.

“Since 2018, awareness campaigns have been carried out with producers of plastic bags, large supermarket chains, restaurants and NGOs involved in projects in this field," the deputy minister said.

The new measure would ban the use of plastic bags of up to 50 microns in thickness, except the bags made from secondary raw materials and those used for wrapping.

Before the entry into force of the law, more public awareness campaigns will be carried out to promote the use of reusable bags. Paper and cloth bags will be offered as alternatives for plastic bags.

Commenting on the question about a possible rise in bag prices due to the new measure, Lusine Avetisyan, the head of the Environmental Strategic Plans and Monitoring Department at the Ministry of Environment, said that there would be no big difference for consumers, since plastic bags are sold for 10-20 drams today.

“Considering how much we can use multiple-use bags, it won't actually be a big burden for consumers. It's just a matter of creating such a practice here,” Avetisyan said.

The official noted that consumers are given about 4,000 tons of plastic bags annually, which makes up about 30% of plastic products, therefore the new measure would help reduce the use of plastics by 30%.