Iraq Bans Free Plastic Bags and Cuts Exam-Period Internet Outages

Prime Minister Ali Zeydi’s government has moved against plastic use by banning the free distribution of bags, prohibiting plastic use in bakeries within six months and imposing taxes on nylon-producing factories. The measures were approved by the Council of Ministers as part of a broader push to curb plastic waste in Iraq. The Environment Ministry said plastic accounts for 40% of the country’s daily waste, underscoring the scale of the problem facing the government. The decision targets a material that has become deeply embedded in everyday commerce and public sanitation. The cabinet also faced criticism over internet shutdowns during exam periods, a practice that has stirred public debate. The Communications Ministry said it has reduced the outage period to one and a half hours per day. Experts said cutting internet access will not solve the underlying issue and argued that the real need is to address weak oversight inside institutions. For the Zeydi government, turning its promises into action has emerged as its first real test.