Use, sale of plastic disposable cutlery to be banned in Moldova

Chisinau, 22 November /MOLDPRES/ - The use and sale of plastic disposable cutlery will be banned as of 1 January 2021, according to legislative amendments adopted by the parliament in the first reading today.   

The document reads that the use and sale of disposable plastic plates, glasses, forks and spoons, as well as of small sticks, except for biodegradable ones, will be prohibited.    

The violation of these provisions will be sanctioned with fine worth from 3,000 to 4,500 lei for private persons. Legal entities will be imposed fines from 6,000 to 12,000 lei or fine worth the product used, but not less than 12,000 lei.

According to the authors, the objects made of non-recyclable plastic represent a source of trash for communities; during the burning, they emit toxic gases, can suffocate or interrupt the digestion of animals consuming them and the degradation of plastic is made between 100 and 400 years. At the same time, the authors propose as alternative disposable cutlery made of paper, corn flour, organic hemp, sugars, wheat, sugar beet, sugar cane, starch, remains of apples or those containing biodegradable additives.    

Earlier, decision-makers completed the national legislation with provisions banning the use and sale of plastic bags starting from 1 January 2019. According to the environment strategy for 2014-2023, the environmental protection represents a problem of global importance, which must become a national priority, as it regards directly the conditions of life and health of the population, carrying out the economic interests, as well as the capacities of the society’s sustainable development.    

The draft is to be passed in the final reading.