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Romanian Retailers Drop Free Plastic Bags, Sell Biodegradable, Reusable Ones

Romanian fast moving consumer goods retailers no longer offer free plastic bags to shoppers following the introduction on Jan 1 of an eco tax of 0.2 lei (EUR1=RON4.0720) for these bags.
Romanian Retailers Drop Free Plastic Bags, Sell Biodegradable, Reusable Ones
08 ian. 2009, 11:40, English

Instead, retailers sell bags made of biodegradable or recyclable materials.

Romania’s former government decided last year to introduce a tax of RON0.2 per bag for bags made of non-recyclable materials, which retailers offered shoppers for free. The tax is charged from companies introducing such bags on the market, both producers and importers. The tax is also applicable for reusable plastic bags and revenues from its collection go to the country’s National Environment Fund.

A survey of the Environment Ministry indicated the average Romanian uses 250 plastic bags per year and the bags are only used for about 20 minutes.