Georgia bans use, import and production of all plastic bags

The use, import and production of plastic bags is entirely prohibited as of today in Georgia.

Georgia started prohibiting the use of single-use plastic bags gradually from October 1, 2018, when the production of bags thicker than 15 microns was banned. 

Now, the ban will affect plastic bags of all sizes. 

New biodegradable bags, which are capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms, will replace using plastic bags.

Business operators still producing or importing plastic bags will be fined 500 GEL (about $185.87/€165.39). Repeat offenses will call for fines of  1,000 GEL (about $371.75/€330.79). 

The Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture says that the need to impose new regulations became clear after the use of plastic bags and its negative impact on the environment increased in recent years. 

The agency said that 2014 statistics revealed that on average, 525 plastic bags per citizen are used annually, while this number in, for example, Ireland is 14, and in Denmark and Finland is only four.