Georgia may soon introduce a complete ban on the sale and distribution of single-use plastic items, including disposable cups, plates, straws, and cutlery. Parliament is preparing to review amendments to the Waste Management Code in an expedited procedure, following support from the Economic Policy Committee.
The draft law would significantly expand the government’s authority by allowing it to prohibit not only the initial placement of certain products on the market, but also their full circulation within the country, an action not permitted under the current legislation.
What the Amendment Changes
Under the new proposal, the Waste Management Code would include the following clause:
“In special cases, the Government of Georgia shall prohibit or restrict the placing on the market and/or trade of a certain product.”
The added reference to “and/or trade” empowers the government to restrict or ban not only imports but also domestic commerce of targeted products. The amendment will take effect immediately upon publication.
According to Zurab Ezugbaia, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, the government has already reached an agreement with the private sector to phase out single-use plastic cups, plates, straws, knives, and similar items. Businesses will be allowed to sell or “buy back” stock imported prior to the ban, but retail trade will be restricted once that transition period ends.
State Sector May Introduce Self-Restrictions
Ezugbaia noted that government agencies may adopt internal bans on purchasing single-use plastic items, an initiative that requires the legislative framework provided by the new amendments.
“We want the state sector to set an example and lead in waste management and reducing plastic use,” he told MPs during the committee session.
Plastic Pollution in Georgia Reaches Critical Levels
- The explanatory note to the draft law highlights severe environmental concerns. International studies indicate that Georgia’s consumption of single-use plastics is critically high:
- 613.5 million units of single-use plastic items are consumed annually in Georgia—equivalent to 3.9–5.9 thousand tons (UNDP).
- In the Rioni River basin, 88% of waste is plastic, most of it single-use.
- Waste density reaches up to 4 units/m² in some locations, far exceeding the EU river average of 0.5 units/m².
If adopted, the amendment will pave the way for Georgia to implement one of its most significant anti-plastic policies to date, bringing the country closer to global environmental standards.
