Blanket ban on single-use plastic bags from 2024

According to an announcement made on Tuesday, the UAE will implement a blanket ban on single-use plastic shopping bags beginning January 1, 2024. According to the state news agency Wam, a ministerial resolution prohibits the import, production, and distribution of single-use plastic shopping bags beginning next year.

This will be the first step toward prohibiting products made of single-use materials. Plastic and foam products such as cups, plates, cutlery, containers, and boxes will be banned beginning January 1, 2026. Spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, straws, and stirrers are examples.

What is the meaning of a blanket ban on single-use plastic bags?

A blanket ban on single-use plastic bags is a policy that disallows the use of plastic bags at stores and other retail outlets. This type of ban has become increasingly popular in cities and countries around the world as an effort to reduce our dependence on plastic products, which can cause significant environmental damage.
Single-use plastic bags are those given out by stores for carrying groceries or other items home, but they often end up being thrown away after one use. These bags take hundreds of years to decompose, which is a significant contributor to landfills and ocean pollution. A blanket ban on these types of bags is a way for people to reduce their contribution to this kind of pollution, as it encourages customers to bring reusable shopping bags whenever they go shopping instead.

The blanket ban on single-use plastic bags in UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announces a blanket ban on single-use plastic bags from 2024 in an effort to reduce environmental pollution. The ban will prohibit the manufacture, importation, sale, and distribution of all single-use plastic bags across the UAE.

Some products are excluded from the decision, including thin bag rolls used to keep food fresh. Products that are to be exported or re-exported are exempt if clearly labeled. Bags made in the country from recycled materials are also exempt.

The relevant authorities are urged to develop mechanisms to reduce the production of single-use materials used to package items such as earbuds, cigarettes, wet wipes, and balloons, among others.

The pan-UAE initiatives seek to protect the environment from plastic pollution. The decision limits the use of plastic and regulates its consumption at the federal level.

According to the decision, all stakeholders, including the relevant authorities and consumers, must collaborate to reduce reliance on single-use plastic. They will implement initiatives to encourage consumers to switch to multi-purpose products. The relevant authorities must also ensure that alternatives are readily available in shopping malls and retail stores.

So far, at least four emirates have announced bans or restrictions on the use of plastic. The retailers in Dubai have started charging 25 fils per bag since July 1, while a ban on single-use plastics went into effect in Abu Dhabi on June 1. Sharjah implemented a 25-fil tax on single-use plastic bags on October 1, 2022, with a ban set to take effect on January 1, 2024. Umm Al Quwain will outlaw single-use plastics on January 1, 2023.