HEWLÊR-Erbil,— Plastic waste has become a growing threat across Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, with environmental specialists warning that more than one in every four bags of garbage produced in the area now consists of plastic. The bulk of it, she said, consists of nylon shopping bags and single-use bottles. That creates long-term damage to ecosystems and public health.”Jiqsi said Erbil has the highest rate of plastic waste among Kurdish cities. Without broader public participation and more decisive policies, experts warn the scale of plastic pollution could overwhelm local waste management systems. In 2019, authorities in Sulaimani announced a ban on plastic bags at bakeries, ordering bakers to use paper instead.