When the Georgian government announced an all-out ban on single-use plastics starting January 1, 2026, last week, it presented the decision as a bold step towards addressing environmental damage.
For policymakers, it is more than an ecological initiative-it signals that Georgia is ready to modernize its waste system and demonstrate leadership ahead of global climate summits like COP 30. For the private sector, however, the regulation presents significant economic challenges, The Caspian Post reports citing Georgia Today.
The ban targets single-use plastics that come into contact with food. Under new technical regulations, the production, import, and sale of items such as plastic forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, plates, straws, stirrers, and expanded polystyrene containers will be prohibited, except for export. Public catering establishments, including restaurants, canteens, and food stalls, will no longer be allowed to serve ready-to-eat food using these items. Transitional periods allow businesses some leeway:
- 3 months to sell previously stocked items,
- 6 months to continue using plastic containers for food deliveries to eateries,
- 1 year for other plastic food-contact materials.
The National Food Agency, the Environmental Supervision Department, and the Revenue Service will enforce the regulation, which reflects Georgia’s commitment to reducing plastic waste, much of which ends up in rivers, coastal areas, and landfills.
Business leaders have voiced concerns about the financial impact. Shota Burjanadze, vice president of the Georgian Restaurateurs’ Association, warned that replacing single-use plastics with eco-friendly alternatives will drive costs up, estimating that “delivery services could become 5-10% more expensive for consumers.” This raises the question of who will absorb these costs: retailers, food outlets, or consumers?
Public officials defend the ban as necessary. Nino Tandilashvili, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA), emphasized balancing public health, environmental safety, and private-sector development: “I believe that, through joint efforts, we can develop a model that supports public health, environmental safety, and the sustainable development of the private sector.” She offered scientific evidence on the risks: “Numerous studies and reports clearly demonstrate the harmful effects of plastic use on human health and environmental pollution. The state, private sector, and donor organizations must … replace them with alternatives that are safe for human health and the environment.”
Deputy Minister Solomon Pavliashvili presented the plastics ban as integral to wider environmental goals: “Our goal is to ensure coordination with the sector and develop regulations that balance environmental, health, and economic interests.” He noted the urgency of tackling plastic waste, which accounts for a significant portion of municipal solid waste.
Georgia generates around 900,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually, over 75% of which ends up in landfills. Plastic constitutes 12-16% of this, translating to 132,000-176,000 tons annually. In 2023, single-use plastic consumption alone reached 4,000 tons, highlighting the prevalence of disposables. Yet, these figures also indicate potential: Georgia aims to recycle 50% of its plastic waste by 2025 and 80% by 2030.
Environmental organizations highlight the need for a circular economy approach. The Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) has long influenced plastic-waste policy in Georgia. Its “End Plastic Pollution in Georgia” project, launched in 2024 with UNDP and Norway, supports government efforts to build circular waste management models. Nana Takvarelia, Head of the project, spotighted the importance of engagement: “Plastic pollution is devastating economies and environments … the circular economy … is crucial for the healthy and clean future of the generations to come.” Laurent Nicole, CENN Executive Director, stressed civic responsibility: “Civic education and public awareness is a crucial element. The citizen is a key factor. If individuals are not able to respect their neighbors with regard to waste, we won’t go far.”
Tbilisi Circular Labs (TCL) piloted reuse systems in June 2024, supported by CENN, GIZ, and ICLEI. Part of the global “Circular City Labs - Testing Reusable Packaging Systems in Cities” project, TCL aims to scale reusable packaging, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and empower women entrepreneurs in Georgia’s circular economy.
