In accordance with the Waste Management Law, Montenegro has officially banned plastic bags and single-use plastics as of this week, with fines ranging from 1,000 to 40,000 euros for non-compliance with this legal provision.
The government previously adopted a regulation on the fee that sellers must pay for light plastic bags with a wall thickness greater than 50 microns.
“It is prescribed that the amount of this fee is 0.03 euros per piece, and it is calculated based on the monthly report on the number of bags the seller has put into circulation,” explained the government.
It was emphasized that the regulation aims to reduce the use of plastic bags, improve the current waste management system, and thereby reduce the negative impact on the environment and human health, as reported by the Montenegrin newspaper Pobjeda.
“The funds from this fee will be paid into the Environmental Protection Fund account and can only be used to finance and co-finance activities for raising awareness, informing the public, and conducting campaigns on the harmful effects of plastic bags on the environment,” the government’s statement concludes.