As of 1 January 2026, the sale or free distribution of shopping bags with a thickness between 15 and 50 microns will be completely prohibited.
Within this framework, the “Her Daim Doğa Dostları” (Always Nature Friends) group, together with personnel from the Environmental Protection Department, distributed cloth bags on Thursday morning at the Gazimağusa Terminal.
Information was provided on the environmental damage caused by plastic bags and on the new regulation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment, Fikri Ataoğlu, also attended the awareness-raising event.
The Environmental Protection Department, operating under the Deputy Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment, is completely banning the sale or free distribution of shopping bags with a thickness between 15 and 50 microns as of 1 January 2026, as part of its efforts to combat plastic pollution that threatens the environment and public health.
In order to raise awareness within this scope, the “Her Daim Doğa Dostları” group, together with Environmental Protection Department personnel, distributed cloth bags ON Thursday morning at the Thursday market located inside the Gazimağusa Terminal, while also providing information on the environmental harm caused by plastic bags and the new regulation.
With this measure, it is aimed to reduce the use of plastic bags—particularly those that take hundreds of years to decompose in nature—prevent microplastic pollution, and encourage more sustainable consumption habits.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu also attended the awareness-raising event and provided information to citizens on the issue.
Speaking at the Thursday Market, Ataoğlu pointed out that plastic pollution was not only an environmental problem but also a serious public health issue.
He stressed that plastic waste accumulating in seas and soil eventually turns into microplastics that enter the food chain and threaten human health.
In his remarks, Ataoğlu stated: “Protecting the environment is not a choice; it is our responsibility to future generations. Every right step we take today means a cleaner and more liveable country for our children tomorrow.”
Highlighting that the widespread use of cloth bags represents an important behaviour change, Ataoğlu stressed the importance of such awareness activities reaching all segments of society, and drew attention to the role of cooperation between civil society organisations and public institutions in the success of environmental policies.
Ataoğlu also noted that the inspection and information activities of the Environmental Protection Department would continue to increase in the coming period, and that efforts to raise awareness among tradespeople and citizens during the adaptation process to the new regulation would be maintained.
