Novi Sad to stop using plastic bags from 2021 – Producers to gradually shift to biodegradable materials

The City Assembly of Novi Sad has adopted the decision whereby the use of plastic bags for the delivery of goods at its sales points, except for biodegradable ones, or those produced in line with the relevant rulebook, is banned in the territory of Novi Sad from January 1, 2021.

As specified in the decision of the city parliament, the regulation pertains to all retail and wholesale outlets, as well as registered green market sales points.

– Nov Sad is the first city in Serbia to take radical measures in this field. We want to be as efficient as possible when it comes to environmental protection – Mayor Milos Vucevic said and invited producers of plastic bags to gradually shift to biodegradable materials, as there's enough time to reorient.

The city is prepared to help the economy prepare for the implementation of this decision, which is of high ecological importance.

As Vucevic told the press, the preparations for the construction of a regional landfill, which is the necessary condition for the amelioration of the current one, which is located next to the highway and where waste has been disposed of for decades, are close to completion.

– The tender for the preparation of a feasibility study for the regional landfill has been initiated and we expect the construction to start soon after the procedure is completed – the mayor pointed out.

The control, that is, inspection supervision of the implementation of the decision on the ban of use of plastic bags will be carried out by the City Administration for Inspection Activities.

Penalties up to RSD 150,000

The violation of the ban is penalized with RSD 150,000 for legal entities and RSD 25,000 for the responsible person. The penalty for entrepreneurs is RSD 75,000.

Grad Novi Sad

Gradska uprava za inspekcijske poslove Novi Sad

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