The state-run news agency Khovar reported on July 17 that Tajikistan will ban import of some types of polyethylene bags starting from January 1, 2025.
Citing Naim Nematzoda, the deputy head of the Directorate for State Control over Land Resources, Common Minerals and Waste Management at the Committee for Environment Protection under the Government of Tajikistan, Khovar says that at the first stage the ban will be imposed on the import into the country of disposable polyethylene materials up to 15 microns thick.
Micron is a standard unit of measure. It is a commonly used term for a micrometer. A micrometer is a unit of length measuring one-millionth of a meter or one-thousandth of a millimeter (0.001mm). The micrometer is represented by the symbol µm.
According to Nematzoda, the ban will not affect prices because the production of plastic bags with a thickness of up to 15 microns is not large.
To replace this kind of packages, Tajikistan’s authorities will take measures to develop the production of eco-friendly packaging made of cardboard, paper, fabric, ceramics and biodegradable polymer materials.
Recall, Bahodour Sheralizoda, the head of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on February 2 this year that the Committee jointly with the United Nations are currently discussing the possibility of imposing a ban on the import of some types of polyethylene bags into the country.
According to him, they are considering the issue of imposing the ban on the import into the country of disposable polyethylene materials up to 15 microns thick.
“The Committee proposes to the government to impose the ban on the import and use of polyethylene materials up to 15 micron at the legislative level. This issue is already under consideration by the government,” Sheralizoda noted.
He further added that they consider packaging made of rapidly decomposing materials as alternative to the banned polyethylene bags.
It is to be noted that plastic bags are difficult and costly to recycle and most end up on landfill sites where they take around 300 years to photodegrade. They break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways and enter the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them.
