UAE residents must prepare for a plastic free lifestyle

UAE Residents must adapt to plastic free healthy lifestyle following ban on single-use plastic bags in Abu Dhabi from June this year. Banning the plastic bags is indeed a great move by the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi (EAD) to combat climate change. The EAD is also working towards phasing out single-use Styrofoam cups, plates and containers by 2024.

The comprehensive policy has been developed to promote a healthy environment and a sustainable lifestyle for all, and to combat climate change by reducing resource consumption and associated pollution.

The authority says it has "coordinated extensively with strategic partners" - especially plastics producers and retailers - since March 2020 to ensure effective implementation, as new technical standards for multi-use bags have been set. A large-scale awareness campaign will be carried out across the Emirate to educate the public on the new procedures, it added.

“As part of our plan to completely curb the use of single-use plastics, we are encouraging Abu Dhabi citizens to use more multipurpose and re-usable materials to reduce their environmental footprint," said Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD. "Today, we are introducing a ban on single-use plastic bags in the Capital in light of their harmful impacts on the environment and biodiversity.”

Now, it is the duty of every resident in the UAE to join hands with the EAD and stop using not only plastic bags but also any other plastic products which are harmful to the environment.