As of today, plastic bags and single-use plastics are prohibited in Montenegro in accordance with the Law on Waste Management. Fines of one thousand and 40 thousand euros are foreseen for non-compliance with this legal provision.
The government previously passed a Regulation on compensation paid by the seller of a light plastic carrier bag with a wall thickness of more than 50 microns.
– It is prescribed that the amount of the said fee is 0.03 euros per piece, and it is calculated on the basis of the monthly report on the amount of bags that the seller put into circulation – the Government explains.
According to them, the regulation should contribute to reducing the use of plastic bags and improve the current state of waste management, thereby reducing the negative impact on the environment and people’s health, Montenegrin Pobjeda writes.
– Funds from this fee will be paid into the account of the Environmental Protection Fund and can only be used for financing and co-financing activities for raising awareness and providing information to the public and campaigns about the harmfulness of the use of plastic bags for the environment – it is added.
A ban on the use of plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness of 15 to 50 microns came into force today.
Bags with a wall thickness of more than 50 microns are not prohibited, but sellers will have to pay a fee for using these bags.
In addition to the ban on bags from 15 to 50 microns, some single-use plastic products are banned. These are primarily ear sticks, except for those used for medical purposes, i.e. for taking swabs.
Then plastic straws, but also plastic cutlery and certain food packaging boxes.
As for the penal policy, the fines will range from 1,000 to 40,000 euros. Fines are imposed on companies that market these prohibited products, as well as on the responsible person in that company, and the Market Inspection is the competent authority for control.
The law also provides for special fees for the disposal of mixed municipal waste, as the goal is to reduce waste disposal in landfills and to close landfills by 2030.
