Armenia looks to ban plastic bags from 2022February 22, 2019 - 18:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Ministry of Nature Protection has unveiled a draft law prohibiting the free provision of plastic bags starting from July 1, 2019. A number of supermarkets have been selling plastic bags to customers for several years now but there is no law regulating the sphere for now. Under the new draft law, special taxes will be imposed for the sale of polyethylene bags from january 2020 which is aimed at a sharp reduction in use. The sale of plastic bags will be banned in 2022. The Ministry argues that the widespread use of polyethylene bags in trade and service sectors has led to the emergence of environmental problems. Plastic packages thrown into the environment are preserved for a long time and do not undergo biological decomposition, resulting in major pollution. The average period of use of polyethylene bags is 10-15 minutes, while their biodegradation takes more than 100-400 years. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |