Shafaq News- Baghdad
Environmental protection and publichealth have emerged among the priorities of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’sgovernment, which approved sweeping restrictions on plastic bags nearly oneweek after parliament endorsed its program and part of the cabinet lineup.
The measures include, within sixmonths, ending the free distribution of plastic shopping bags, prohibitingtheir use in bakeries, and halting their importation while replacing them withenvironmentally friendly biodegradable alternatives.
The government also approvedimposing fees on factories producing nylon bags, as well as environmentalmonitoring and assessment fees for plastic bag producers, with part of therevenues allocated to recycling and awareness programs.
In addition, a specialized committeewas formed to support waste sorting and recycling projects, encourageinvestment in paper industries, and facilitate a gradual transition towardpaper bags.
The decisions build on earliergovernment measures introduced in 2018, when Baghdad banned the import ofrecycled plastic materials used in food and beverage packaging over concernsthey could contain carcinogenic or harmful substances.
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Explaining the environmental andhealth risks behind the new restrictions, Environment Ministry spokespersonLuay Al-Mukhtar described plastic pollution as a “global concern,” warning thatIraq is increasingly affected by the crisis. He told Shafaq News that plasticsaccount for nearly 40% of the waste generated by Iraqis, equivalent to around400 grams per person daily, attributing the trend to the low cost and excessiveconsumption of plastic products.
Al-Mukhtar also cautioned that manyplastic products are unsafe for food use because they can transfer microplasticparticles and hazardous substances into food, particularly when used with hotmeals. He added that the difficulty of recycling certain types of plastic hasturned them into “a burden on the state” in waste management, as well as onwater resources, soil, wildlife, and the broader environment.
Only about 20% of Iraq’s plasticwaste is recycled, according to environmental specialist Salahuddin Al-Zaidi,while the remainder accumulates in landfills or flows into rivers.
Fadel Al-Gharawi, head of Iraq’sStrategic Center for Human Rights, warned that plastic bags harm more than 700species of wild and marine animals in Iraq and called for bans on their importand production, wider use of paper bags, and nationwide awareness campaigns.
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