Greece will look to end the use of single-use plastics by July 1, 2021, according to Environment and Energy Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.
Hatzidakis made the announcement on Saturday while attending an event announcing the partnership between the Ministry and AC Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, titled “Greece, Free of Single-Use Plastics” at Schinias Beach in Athens.
Single-use plastics include plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles, and most food packaging.
“Every day, we use a million plastic cups of coffee in Greece,” Hatzidakis said. “This cannot continue, so we are moving ahead with this initiative, which the Prime Minister himself has strongly supported, and which must be done in tandem with citizens,” the Minister added during the event.
Angeliki Kosmopoulou of the AC Laskaridis Charitable Foundation also spoke during the Saturday gathering, noting that “Greece is taking a great leap forward” in seeking to ban the use of single-purpose plastics. She called for new laws banning plastics, adding that they should be accompanied by a public awareness campaign.
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