Sale of Most Single-Use Plastics Now Banned in Slovenia, Large Fines for Offenders
STA, 19 August 2021 - The government has banned the sale of single-use plastic products bar a few exceptions. The relevant regulation, endorsed at Wednesday's correspondence session, also prescribes the labelling of certain single-use plastic items and their packaging to raise awareness about recycling.
Products to be banned under the regulation include plastic cutlery, plates and straws as well as ear swabs, except for those used as medical equipment. Also banned are plastic stir sticks and balloon sticks with the exception of those intended for industrial use and not for customers.
The regulation, transposing an EU regulation, also bans expanded polystyrene food and drink packaging and items made of oxo-degradable plastics.
Moreover, it sets out new rules for labelling of some single-use plastic products and their packaging to inform consumers on how to handle waste from such products.
The items that should be labelled include pads, tampons and applicators, wet wipes, tobacco products with filters, filters marketed in combination with tobacco products, and cups.
The ban will take effect fifteen days after the regulation is published in the Official Gazette.
Fines for non-compliance will range up to EUR 15,000 for legal entities, up to EUR 5,000 for sole proprietors and up to EUR 3,000 for the executive or proprietor in charge.
