Abu Dhabi announces policy to ban single-use plastics by 2021

The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) on Monday announced a policy that will ban single-use plastics from 2021.

In a series of tweets by the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office, it was announced that the policy will encourage the use of reusable bags and introduce a fine for using plastics instead of sustainable alternatives.

The agency will also introduce a bottle return deposit scheme in retail outlets. "The policy will ensure transformation towards reusable items rather than shifting from plastic to non-plastic single-use items," a post retweeted by the EAD said.

.@EADTweets launched a progressive policy to reduce consumption of single-use plastics in the emirate. The policy will ban single-use plastic bags, encourage using reusable bags, and introduce a levy on plastics with sustainable alternatives pic.twitter.com/aOGj0bNyYD

- Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (@admediaoffice) March 9, 2020

The policy aims to declare Abu Dhabi free of single-use plastic bags by 2021, helping to reduce the UAE's consumption of 11 billion plastic bags annually -1,184 bags per person which is over three times the global average.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said the policy was developed with 12 government entities and in partnership with the private sector, supported by a survey of 2,700 people conducted by the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com