On Wednesday, the UAE capital Abu Dhabi began counting single-use plastic bags, with most of them replaced with reusable ones for a fee in one of the countries with the highest consumption of plastic bags.
“As of today, Abu Dhabi is introducing a ban on the use of single-use plastic bags,” the government of the emirate said in a statement. Excluded from the decision are packages of medicines, waste and foodstuffs such as fruit and meat, as well as bags for clothes and toys.
The Abu Dhabi State Environmental Protection Agency called on retailers to “provide alternative eco-friendly and reusable bags for a nominal fee to encourage consumers to embrace this positive change in environmental behaviour.” She said the purpose of the decision is to “support the emirate’s efforts to achieve a sustainable future.”
According to local media, the UAE consumes 11 billion plastic bags annually, which is equivalent to 1,182 plastic bags per year at the individual level. This is considered very high compared to the global average of about sacks per capita per year.
It is noteworthy that the Dubai Municipality intends to introduce a financial tariff on single-use plastic bags from July 1, up to a complete ban within two years. The UAE, which is trying to show its commitment to sustainable development more and more, will host the United Nations climate summit “COP 28” next year. The Gulf State hopes to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Like other Gulf states, the UAE has built its wealth mainly from fossil fuels, the construction sector and consumer protection.
