The ban on the sale of plastic bags started yesterday. Markets are obliged to sell exclusively biodegradable bags, which charge consumers 15 denars. The high price of the bags made the citizens go shopping with already used bags, which they bring from home.

People come out of shopping in "Kam" with bags branded by "Vero", "Ramstore", "Tinex", and vice versa. Some, on the other hand, carry canvas bags. They say that 15 denars is too much to spend on an ordinary bag. There are those who do not believe that today's bags are different from those sold in the markets until yesterday.

- To tell you the truth, the bags look the same to me, I do not see a difference from these bags that sell for 15 denars today, compared to those that were one denar or two yesterday. The price is high, but if we have to, we will get used to it, whoever has excess money will buy it, whoever is more economical will bring bags from home - says one of the citizens we met today.

Some of our fellow citizens, as they explain, have stocked up on bags, so they will have a certain period.

- I bought shopping bags while they were cheaper. I will have it for a while, then I will buy a bag and as before, in the sixties, then I will go to the market with a bag. Everything is up to the habit, we will get used to this - says our fellow citizen.

However, everyone agrees that the price of the bags is too high.

- If I have to buy a few bags, it will cost me one hundred denars. I do not eat meat, which means that with that money I will be able to eat lunch with vegetables for two days - adds one of the respondents.

Citizens will have to pay 15 denars for a plastic bag if they do not want to carry tomatoes, peppers or apples in their hands. The biggest reactions to the so-called grocery bags come from the elderly, who usually buy a piece of vegetable or fruit. Some buyers ask where is the math if for "two or three onions, which cost 10 denars, they have to pay 15 denars"?

The Organization of Employers for "Free Press" says that they have received complaints from traders about such bags, hence their position that it is necessary to amend the Law on Management of Packaging and Packaging Waste, or delay its application.

- The initiative was started because the application of these bags is very limited (we are talking about small quantities of bags), ie it is a bag used for measuring fruits and vegetables and in this short period the companies from the trade have a problem to introduce their replacement - say from ORM.

They consider that their application should be postponed until January 1, 2023 or that paragraph 1 of Article 10 should be changed and read: Plastic bags for carrying goods on the market in the Republic of Northern Macedonia are prohibited, with the exception of very light plastic bags for carrying goods (bags for fruits and vegetables - bags for weighing bulk goods).

The Minister of Environment, Naser Nuredini, told the citizens to use canvas bags for shopping, explaining that for now there is no change in the price for garbage bags.

Inspired by the new law for reducing the use of plastic bags, the students from the special primary school "Zlatan Sremec" made canvas bags, and the sale will be intended for the purchase of didactic materials for children.