Municipal Council meeting discusses plastic bag ban
The Legal Committee of the Municipal Council in Muscat held its first meeting this year headed by its chief Dr Muhammad bin Ali al Saadi, in the presence of representatives from the Environment Authority and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
The meeting discussed the decision to ban single-use plastic shopping bags, which began on January 1, 2021.
Dr Mohammad Majid al Kasbi, director of Department of Chemical Materials in the Environment Authority, gave a visual presentation on the dangers of plastic bags on the environment, the reasons for issuing the decision on the ban, as well as the global trend towards regulating use of plastic bags.
Kasbi confirmed that there is a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion regarding recycling plastic products and bags.
“The Environment Authority has launched a national initiative to limit the use of plastic shopping bags in addition to intensifying awareness campaigns,” he said.
Eng Sami bin Salem al Saheb, director general of industry in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, informed that the ministry made sure that the 14 local factories involved in the production of plastic bags are not affected by the ban.
The ministry also held meetings with manufacturers to ensure their readiness in the transitional period by finding suitable alternatives, and merchants and commercial centres were prepared to implement the ban.