UAE to ban single-use plastic shopping bags
The UAE to ban single-use plastic shopping bags from January 1st, 2024. State-run WAM news agenc announced on Tuesday 10th January 2023. The new law would prohibit the import, production and circulation of such bags.
The UAE declared it aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 at this year’s United Nations climate summit.
This is the first step towards an eventual ban on products made of single-use materials in the UAE. From January 1st, 2026, the ban of plastic or foam products like cups, plates, cutlery, containers and boxes will be enforced. These include spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, straws and stirrers.
The decision requires all stakeholders – including the authorities concerned and consumers – to work together to reduce single-use plastic consumption. To encourage consumers to switch to multi-use products, companies must adopt initiatives. Additionally, authorities must ensure that alternatives are readily available in shopping malls and retail stores.
The authorities concerned are to develop mechanisms to reduce the production of single-use materials. This includes package items, earbuds, cigarettes, wet wipes and balloons, among others.
The Pan-UAE measures aim to protect the environment from plastic pollution. The decision limits the consumption of plastic and regulates its use at the federal level.
As per the decision, all stakeholders, the authorities concerned and consumers, must work together to reduce dependence on single-use plastic. They are to adopt initiatives so that consumers switch to multi-use products. The authorities concerned must also make sure that alternatives are readily available at shopping centres and retail stores.
Emirates with bans
At least four emirates have announced bans or regulated the use of plastic so far. In Abu Dhabi, a ban on single-use plastics went into effect on June 1st 2022. In Dubai, since July 1st 2022, retailers have been charging 25 fils per bag. Sharjah introduced a 25 fils tariff per single-use plastic bags from October 1st, 2022. Sharjah also has a ban all set to go into effect from January 1st, 2024. Umm Al Quwain banned single-use plastics from January 1st, 2023.
Plastic bags decompose after 400 years. The negative environmental impact is mitigated over thousands of years.
