Ihor Tsyrkin, a member of Party of Regions paliament faction, has proposed that the Ukrainian parliament from July 1, 2013 restrict the use of plastic bags and packages that have a long period of decay.
Draft law No. 2352 was registered in Ukrainian parliament on Feb. 20, 2013.
According to the document, it is proposed that production, import, use and distribution of plastic bags at least 35 liters in volume and 0.025 millimeters thick be banned.
In addition, the ban applies to packages made of cardboard, paper and extrusion-type polymer film, or paraffin.
The lawmaker also proposed a ban on the use of any polymeric packages by foodstuff sellers and catering companies.
It is expected that ban will not apply to biological polymeric plastic bags that have the short period of decay.
“In Ukraine over 500 plastic bags are thrown away per capita every year. The bags are used for 20 minutes and their decay period is over 100 years,” reads the explanatory note to the draft.
Bisphenols A are released during the burning of plastic bags, which upsets the balance of human hormones, and only a small amount of plastic bags are recycled in Ukraine.
