Armenia seeks to ban single-use plastics from 2027

Armenia’s parliament is considering legislation that would ban the sale and use of single-use plastic and polystyrene containers, cups, plates and cutlery in retail outlets, food service establishments, street vendors and fairs starting January 1, 2027.

Introducing the bill to lawmakers on Wednesday, Deputy Environment Minister Ara Mkrtchyan said the draft amendments to the law on trade and services aim to curb widespread plastic pollution, noting that polyethylene bags and disposable tableware take 100 to 400 years to decompose and have contaminated rivers, resorts and tourist areas.

Exceptions would apply to packaging bags used for weighing goods, garbage bags made from recycled materials and lidded plastic containers for certain products. Oversight of violations would be jointly handled by local governments and the Market Surveillance Inspectorate.

Armenia began restricting thin polyethylene bags in 2022 as a first step, giving manufacturers time to adapt. The new proposal extends the ban to thicker bags and a wider range of single-use plastic products, with the government urging producers to shift to biodegradable and reusable alternatives.