Companies to introduce plastic bags on the market will pay 0.2 RON per bag, starting in 2009

All economic operators that introduce plastic bags on the market will have to pay, starting in 2009, 0.2 RON per bag, Environment Minister Attila Korodi declared on Tuesday. Companies will have to post in a visible spot the value of the ecological tax. Romanians use some 5 billion plastic bags every year.

The Environment Minister explained that the use of plastic bags generates a significant level of pollution, while the product itself has a very short life cycle.

According to a recent study, a Romanian use a plastic bag everyday, but not for more than 20 minutes.

The amount of plastic bags used in 2006 was 1,300,000 tons, but increased 30% in 2008. Romania uses some 90 million liters of crude oil for producing the plastic bags. A biodegradable bag may cost 5 to 10% more than a plastic bag.