Greece Aims to Ban Single-Use Plastics by July 2021

The Greek government is drafting a bill that aims to ban all single-use plastics in the country by July 2021.
The draft law to reduce the impact of certain plastics on the environment, with the incorporation of the relevant EU directives which was put to public consultation by the Ministry of Environment until 18 September. With the draft law, Greece will be harmonized with the decisions that have been taken at the EU level on the issue.
According to the initial proposals, from July 3, 2021, a number of disposable plastic products such as such as cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks), plates, straws, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene and drink stirrers, will be prohibited.
Businesses will be able to supply the above items until October of the same year or earlier until their stocks are depleted. Public enterprises will be banned from supplying these products six months earlier, from the beginning of 2021.
From July 3, 2021, the disposal of some biodegradable plastics will also be prohibited. These bags were initially presented as an “ecological” alternative to ordinary bags, but in the process it was found that they simply disintegrated into smaller pieces that are much more difficult to collect from the environment.
From 1 July 2021, municipalities should equip all playgrounds and municipal sports facilities with drinking water taps, so that there is no need to use bottled water.
From January 1, 2022, an environmental tax will be imposed (as was done with the plastic bag) on ​​plastic cups and lids, as well as on disposable food containers (tapers). The fee is 0.05 euros and will be charged separately for the glass or container and its lid. The contribution will end up in a special account in the Green Fund and will be used for actions to protect the marine environment.
At the same time, the bill stipulates that producers of a range of disposable products will have to either create their own recycling systems by 2023 or participate in one of the existing ones.
Also, for the first time, companies that sell tobacco products (that have filters) will have to create collection (or recycling) systems. The companies will be responsible in order to design and implement public awareness actions, as well as to participate in the cost of cleaning the environment.