Cyprus had the fourth-highest consumption of plastic bags in the European Union in 2022, using over 150 bags per person annually, according to Eurostat data released Tuesday.
This comes as EU-wide consumption fell by 14% compared to 2021.
The island’s high usage contrasts with the EU’s lowest consumers – Belgium (4 bags per person), Poland (7), and Portugal (13). Lithuania led the EU with 249 bags per person, followed by Latvia (193) and the Czech Republic (185).
Detailed data for Cyprus shows:
- 82.3 bags per person with thickness less than 15 micrometres
- 83.8 bags per person between 15-49 micrometers
- A total of 166.1 bags per person under 50 micrometres
The EU has set a target for member states to reduce consumption of lightweight plastic bags to no more than 40 per person by December 31, 2025, excluding very light bags under 15 micrometres thick. Total EU consumption dropped to 29.8 billion lightweight plastic bags in 2022, averaging 66.6 bags per person.
Eurostat attributes variations in consumption to differences in policy effectiveness, influenced by economic, social, and political factors. Some countries implemented reduction measures between 2018-2022, while others had longer-standing policies.
Panicos Panayiotou, Senior Executive Engineer at the Department of Public Works in Limassol, attributed water accumulation during last weekend’s storms to rubbish being washed into and blocking the drains.
He said that plastic bags often end up blocking drains, preventing proper drainage during rainfall.
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