Good news from Albania, which this summer became the first Balkan country to #banthebag, with great results already.

 

 

The problem was that almost all items were sold with a plastic bag. The capital Tirana produces 1,200 tonnes of plastic bag waste a year, according to Kledina Skendo, an environmental specialist for the city council. Much of it ended up in rivers or as dubious tree decorations.

The environment department decided to get a grip this year. It persuaded the heads of leading supermarket chains to charge a nominal price per bag. Distribution fell dramatically, within just a week.