52% of UAE residents 'concerned' about plastic use

Dubai - Not all residents are aware of government legislation about discouraging plastic use.

Despite door-to-door and mass awareness campaigns on waste reduction and segregation, many residents here are unable to pinpoint specific legislation regarding plastic use.
In a YouGov survey targeting 1,017 people in the UAE, 52 per cent of respondents showed great concern with the use of plastic in their city, especially those residing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
However, only two out of five respondents in the UAE said they are aware of government legislation about discouraging plastic use.
Interestingly, those between the ages of 18-24-years-old were the least clued up, with little over a third knowing being aware of campaigns relating to plastic waste.
Though the survey shows a positive trend in residents' environment-conscious approach to using less plastic, more noise still needs to be made when it comes to stepping up awareness here.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Scottish resident Cheryl Leonard, said: "I am not aware of any campaigns in the UAE for plastic waste reduction. I would love to see more places and options for recycling. I try and not use plastic bottles and I always reuse bottles and shopping bags as much as possible."
While awareness regarding active campaigns may be low, a significant proportion of Asians (60 per cent) and those aged 40 and above (61 per cent), expressed high concerns over the indiscriminate use of plastic in their city.
And close to two-thirds of respondents did share their concerns about how it will lead to environmental degradation.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), said: "The awareness is there, it is the commitment that is absent. The information has to penetrate every single platform and manifest itself in all forms of education...It has to go mainstream.
"It is very important that we eliminate single-use straws and other plastic cutlery from entering the food chain. I will go a step further and call for the ban of production of single-use plastic in the country."
Natalie Banks, managing director at Azraq, a non-profit marine conservation organisation registered with the Community Development Authority, said it has been "really motivating" to see movement happening here over the past 18 months. "It is citizens who start a trend, then industry picks it up, and that then moves on to the government. It is an exciting time for the UAE to have a focus on plastic waste. Change is happening."
New Zealand expat Olivia Joy said she was actually made aware just this morning that there is a recycling mobile application available for Dubai. "You can leave your plastics out and they are collected."
And like Leonard, British expatriate Roo Janda is unaware of legislation within the country.

KT NANO EDIT