Set of measures to reduce plastic waste is being implemented in Belarus

29 January 2024

Today, one of the most serious and complex challenges facing people and the planet, affecting every aspect of life, is single-use plastic. In Belarus, plastic annually accounts for about 280 tons of solid municipal waste. About 35-37% of them are recyclable.

Effective measures and solutions to reduce the generation of plastic waste are being implemented in the country with the support of UN agencies. Among them:

• a plan is being implemented to reduce the use of polymer packaging and replace it with environmentally friendly;
• conditions and infrastructure for the collection and safe disposal of household waste, including plastic, are being improved;
• new mechanisms for managing municipal solid waste are being introduced in small towns: from separate collection to transfer to recycling companies;
• utility employees were trained on new approaches to collecting, sorting and recycling plastic waste;
• work is being carried out to promote «green» education, develop universal skills and innovative thinking among young people, etc.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), developed the draft of the National Strategy for the Development of the Circular Economy of the Republic of Belarus for the period until 2035. It is expected that the circular economy will focus on five priority areas: eco-design, resource-efficient, cleaner production, industrial symbiosis, packaging and the sharing economy.

The implementation of comprehensive solutions to reduce the use of plastic makes an important contribution to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goals 12, 13 and other SDGs.

More detailed information about measures to reduce plastic in Belarus can be found at the link.

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