Yesterday marked the start of the implementation of the single-use plastic bag ban in Abu Dhabi, which was announced in April. This development comes as part of the tools of an integrated and comprehensive single-use plastic policy developed by Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi (EAD) in 2020 that will be implemented this year.
Retailers offered as a substitute reusable bags to encourage positive behavioural change by customers and provide them with the opportunity to reuse the bags when needed, to avoid using single-use plastic versions.
In addition to being environmentally friendly, this initiative promotes community awareness of sustainable consumption of the earth’s resources by limiting harmful effects of non-biodegradable plastic bags on human health, other organisms, and the environment, she added.
Following this ban, EAD will be executing a wide-reaching awareness campaign that will span the emirate of Abu Dhabi to educate residents on available alternatives.
The Agency has worked closely with all relevant stakeholders from the government and private sector to ensure success of the single-use plastic bag ban, experiencing high levels of engagement which will help the policy to bear fruit. The Agency will continue to work with large retailers and smaller grocery shops to enhance knowledge about the negative effects of single-use plastic bags and provide affordable substitutes.
Recently, a group of senior executives from major retail outlets in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi recently signed a voluntary declaration, committing them to support the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy.