Regional Government approves measures to reduce single-use plastics - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Government approved today at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores a Regional Legislative Decree defining measures to reduce single-use products and promote reusing and recycling, pursuing the sustainable development goals. It is focused on the principles of a green and circular economy, implementing EU legislation on the matter in the Region.    

For Alonso Miguel, Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change, "the legal document now approved by the Regional Assembly is essential to encourage good environmental practices, change consumption habits and avoid waste, thus stimulating environmental awareness-raising."    

Among the measures to be implemented, it is important to mention the increase in the tax to be applied on plastic bags provided to consumers in retail, food or beverage establishments, from 4 to 10 cents per bag. In addition, the provision of single-use plastic bags for the packaging of bulk products will be banned, with the exception of meat, fish and their derivatives, so as to provide a significant contribution to waste prevention in the Azores.    

According to Alonso Miguel, "there has been a positive evolution regarding the use of plastic bags over the last few years, with a considerable reduction, but the fact is that more than 10 million plastic bags are still being placed in the regional market."    

"With this increase in the tax on the use of plastic bags, the aim is to further discourage their use."    

For the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change "what is intended is not an increase in revenue."    

"On the contrary, the goal would be for this revenue to reach zero, which would mean that this use had been drastically reduced, thereby confirming the desired success of the measure," he added.