Halabja body bans single-use plastics

HALABJA – The Halabja Directorate of Labor and Vocational Training has announced a comprehensive ban on the use of all types of single-use plastic. The directive, issued yesterday under the slogan “We humans are not separate from our environment,” requires all affiliated organizations and entities to cease using plastic items including bags, coverings, and disposable cups, emphasizing environmental protection as a key priority.

Plastic waste has increasingly blighted the cities and rural landscapes across the Kurdistan Region, with discarded plastic water bottles and snack wrappers visible along roadsides and in the countryside.

Despite numerous awareness campaigns and volunteer initiatives, particularly during holidays like Newroz, the issue of littering remains pervasive in the area.

The environmental impact of plastic waste is not confined to visual pollution; it also poses significant threats to wildlife and ecosystems. Plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing harmful chemicals into the soil and waterways, thereby affecting both terrestrial and aquatic life.

This persistent pollution problem has prompted global movements toward reducing plastic usage, with many regions enforcing bans or significant reductions in single-use plastics.

The degradation of plastics results in microplastics that infiltrate food chains, affecting not only animal but also human health. Studies have shown that these microplastics are found everywhere from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains.

Elsewhere, the European Union passed legislation that bans single-use plastic items such as straws, forks, knives, and cotton buds from 2021. This directive is part of a broader plan to reduce pollution and push its member states towards a circular economy model where all packaging must be reusable or recyclable by 2030.