Skopje, 1 December 2021 (MIA) – The goal of paying for biodegradable bags is to raise public awareness about reusable cotton bags and to cut down the use of plastics, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Naser Nuredini told Wednesday’s press briefing. The goal, he noted, is not to force the citizens to spend more money, but to make them pay more attention to environmental pollution. “The standards remain the same as regulated under the waste management law. It means that manufactures can continue to produce plastic bags according to these standards, which are biodegradable, until June 1, 2023,” Minister Nuredini said. He reiterated that the ban on plastic bags, taking effect from today, aims to reduce the use of plastics. “We’ll inform the public in the first quarter of next year how much money has been collected in the Fund, and what we plan on doing with it,” Nuredini said answering reporters’ questions, noting that money will be intended for projects to reduce pollution of the environment. Asked whether plastic packaging will undergo changes, the Minister explained that it is already being paid for through the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system. “The same standards will be applied until June 1, 2023, producers have a year and a half to adapt to the changes,” said Nuredini stressing that microplastics are harmful to the soil and water. These changes, he noted, are implemented only to protect public health. According to the law on social responsibility, the Minister mentioned, producers that use packaging annually should pay compensation, which is then collected by waste collectors, which are obligated to buy recycle and waste selection canisters with the money. “It’s vital people to start selecting waste more in order to have more waste selection containers installed, thus increase recycling as a way to contribute to the protection of the environment,” Minister Nuredini told the press briefing.