The Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan has made a surprising decision, softening its ban on single-use plastics in the country. 

What's happening?

According to News.Az, Kyrgyzstan's lawmakers have loosened restrictions on plastic products that were set to be fully implemented on Jan. 1, 2027. The original legislation would have sharply restricted the use of many single-use plastics, including polymer film bags (thin clear plastic bags used in packaging), all disposable plastic tableware, disposable food packaging, polyethylene terephthalate or PET bottles (typically used for water or juice packaging), disposable plastic egg cartons, plastic coffee capsules, and grocery bags.

However, the Central Asian nation has opted to remove PET bottles and disposable food packaging from the list of banned products. They made the change to line up with regional trade regulations in the Eurasian Economic Union, after regional businesses warned that the move could impact regional trade, though the rest of the bans will remain and at least chart important progress. 

Why is the plastic ban important?

Plastics and plastic pollution have become one of the hottest topics in the modern world, as the problem has grown to epidemic proportions. The issue is that, unlike organic materials, plastic doesn't biodegrade; it can stay in the landscape for hundreds of years. However, in that time, it will leach harmful chemicals into the soil and break down into tiny particles known as microplastics.

While we don't yet know the full extent of the dangers microplastics pose to our health and environment in a definitive way, early research isn't promising. They've been linked to liver and lung issues, and have caused real issues in the brains of mice. Microplastics have also been shown to have deleterious effects on crops when they're found in soil and are found in the furthest flung corners of the world.

Banning single-use plastics goes a long, long way toward reducing the future impact of microplastics, while giving us time to find a solution to their presence in the world.  

What's next for the plastic ban?

In Kyrgyzstan, the ban won't be implemented until 2027, but many local governments in the country have already implemented their own bans of PET bottles and food containers.

Whether or not your area has any bans of these types, you can limit single-use items — such as for traveling or drinking needs — and find more plastic-free alternatives to help make a difference. It can be tough to remember, but bringing reusable bags to stores is one of the biggest ways to keep plastic litter out of the environment, and it's worthwhile even in areas that have plastic bans and would only supply biodegradable paper bags. 

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