UAE VOWS TO TURN THE PLASTIC TIDE, HOW ABOUT YOU?

The ugly truth about plastics is everywhere. Khaleej Times’ latest ‘KT For Good’ campaign explores why we need to heed the eco-warriors’ call: Say no to plastic. For the eighth part of our series, we spoke with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environme

The world is waking up to a crisis created by what was once dubbed a ‘miracle product’. Countries are now taking concerted actions to reverse the plastic trend — and the UAE has been doing its bit to reduce plastic waste.

Calling plastic pollution a ‘monumental environmental challenge’, Yousif Al Rayssi, director of the municipal affairs department at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE), recognised that the scale of the problem has already reached the tipping point. For one, marine and terrestrial animals have been dying either from suffocation or starvation as they mistake plastics for food.

Studies have shown that the plastic industry is “thriving” at an alarming rate in the GCC, Al Rayyasi said.

“According to the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, the UAE has the fastestgrowing plastic industry in the GCC region at over 24 per cent per annum in the past decade.

“Given its paramount importance in everyday life, there is a huge demand for plastic among individuals as well as industrial and commercial sectors. Therefore, in a bid to reduce plastic waste, the UAE government exerts considerable efforts to ensure the smart use and disposal of plastic products,” he added.

To tackle the root cause of the plastic problem, the government is taking measures to move towards a “plastic-circular economy” and adopt eco-friendly waste management solutions, Al Rayssi told Khaleej Times.

“We realised the dire need to protect the environment against the adverse effects of plastic waste through opting for greener choices,” he said. And according to the national agenda, the country targets to divert 75 per cent of its municipal solid waste from landfills by 2021, Al Rayassi added.

A number of legislations have been introduced to mitigate plastic pollution, including Cabinet Resolution No. 40 of 2009, which sets a mandatory standard for plastic bags and other biodegradable plastic products.

“The MoCCAE passed Ministerial Resolution No. 118 of 2013, obliging manufacturers and suppliers of plastic products to register biodegradable plastic products at the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS). Also, according to Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 for the protection and development of the environment, dumping any waste in our seas and oceans is illegal,” Al Rayssi said.

In December 2018, the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is- sued Federal Law No. 12 of 2018 on integrated waste management, which seeks to transform waste from an environmental concern into a source of income in accordance with best practices. The law tackles the entire waste life cycle — from its production, segregation and collection, down to its transportation, storage, reuse, recycling, treatment and disposal.

The country has also been systematically monitoring waste generation to ensure its effective management, Al Rayyasi said.

“Realising that efficient and effective waste management requires valid data, the MoCCAE has developed the electronic National Waste Database that tracks the generation and treatment of all types of waste across the UAE, and it is accessible to all local departments concerned.”

Launched in 2018, the National Waste Database lists out the amount of waste generated, the treatment methods used, and how much of waste has been treated in each emirate. Results will then be compared with national targets and global indicators.

Several waste-to-energy facilities are also under construction, and these are expected to boost the ministry’s efforts to keep all kinds of waste away from landfills, Al Rayyasi said.

Engaging communities

The fight against plastic waste goes beyond putting rules and regulations in place. It’s a problem that can be totally solved only if everyone in the community does their share.

“We believe that to deal with the plastic waste challenge in an effective manner, we must educate and engage the public. Therefore, we have been running awareness campaigns about the smart use and disposal of plastic.

“The campaigns have focused on promoting green habits and applying the principle of the 3Rs — reduce, reuse and recycle.” The ministry has also organised coastal clean-up drives.

Early this year, the MoCCAE hosted the Climate Forum at the World Government Summit in Dubai. The event featured plastic pollution discussions that were led by environmental advocates.

Under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, the MoCCAE has engaged private businesses in the anti-plastic drive. As part of the initiative, LuLu Group International, Aster DM Healthcare, Apparel Group, BRS Ventures and many other firms pledged to bring down the plastic waste numbers across their operations.

“The success of each of the initiatives that tackle plastic waste represents a small victory within the bigger global picture.

“Repeated achievements and incremental gains by all stakeholders will eventually result in turning the tide on plastic pollution,” Al Rayssi said.