TIRANA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The use of plastic bags during 2018 decreased by 70 percent compared to the previous year, the Albanian Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Ornela Cuci declared in an interview for Albanian Telegraphic Agency on Saturday.

According to Cuci, the changes made by law by the Albanian government are related to the thickness of the plastic bag and the amount of bio-degrading agents that should have a plastic bag as well as that over 50 percent of the material used in a plastic bag should be recyclable.

"Since this product was very important in the Albanian market, the government has set this initiative to help the plastic bag recyclers and deal with the renovation," emphasized Cuci.

According to the deputy minister, these changes by law have produced good results.

"From the reports, we have 70 percent fewer plastic bags produced. Of the 5 million plastic bags a year you use, we already have 1 million plastic bags per year used," said Cuci.

Albania has adopted a harsh policy against plastic wastes, especially plastic bags.