Selling hot baked items in plastic bags banned

sharjah — THE SHARJAH MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ON SUNDAY ISSUED A DECISION OBLIGING ALL BAKERIES OPERATING IN THE EMIRATE TO USE PAPER WRAPPING FOR ALL HOT BAKED PRODUCTS INSTEAD OF THE PLASTIC BAGS TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE DURING A PERIODICAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, HEADED BY ITS CHAIRMAN RASHID BIN TALAIHA, IN LINE WITH MINISTERIAL DECREE NO 118 FOR THE YEAR 2013 OBLIGING MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS OF PLASTIC TO MANUFACTURE OR SUPPLY BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC PRODUCTS IN THE COUNTRY.

THE DECISION BANS ALL BAKERIES FROM SELLING ALL KINDS OF HOT BAKERY ITEMS, SUCH AS BREAD, TO CUSTOMERS IN PLASTIC BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BAKED PRODUCTS THAT ARE COOLED BEFORE PACKING OR WRAPPING. THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL WILL REFER THE DECISION TO THE SHARJAH MUNICIPALITY FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION.

SPEAKING TO Khaleej Times, AN OFFICIAL AT THE SHARJAH MUNICIPALITY SAID THAT THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY DISTRIBUTE CIRCULARS TO ALL BAKERIES OPERATING IN THE EMIRATE TO BAN THEM FROM SELLING HOT BAKED PRODUCTS TO CUSTOMERS IN NON-DEGRADABLE PLASTIC BAGS. THE MUNICIPALITY WILL GIVE THE BAKERIES A GRACE PERIOD OF 30 DAYS TO RECTIFY THEIR SITUATION AND GET RID OF THE QUANTITY OF THE PLASTIC BAGS WHICH THEY HAVE.

HE ADDED THAT THE MUNICIPALITY WILL BE WORKING ON A SET OF RULES AND REGULATIONS TO SUPPORT THE DECISION WHICH IS AIMED AT PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE MUNICIPALITY EARLIER ISSUED THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO 35 FOR THE YEAR 2011, IN AN EXTENSION TO THE MINISTERIAL DECREE ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE THAT BANNED THE USAGE, MANUFACTURING OR TRADING OF NON-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS IN THE COUNTRY. THE ORDER HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN ALL SUPERMARKETS, GROCERIES AND ALL SHOPS.

THE OFFICIAL ADDED THAT THE MUNICIPALITY WILL LAUNCH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS TO EDUCATE BAKERY EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DANGER OF USING NON-DEGRADABLE PLASTIC PRODUCTS FOR HOT BAKED ITEMS OR EVEN ANY HOT CONSUMABLE ITEM. “DURING THE 30-DAY GRACE PERIOD, THE MUNICIPALITY WILL DISTRIBUTE LEAFLETS AMONG THE PUBLIC AND BAKERIES.

“IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC BAGS ARE USED ONLY ONCE BY THE CONSUMER AND THEN DISCARDED. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET RID OF THEM THROUGH TRADITIONAL WAYS,” SAID THE OFFICIAL.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com