Capital sees 90% drop in single-use plastics
Abu Dhabi has brought down single-use plastics by more than 90 per cent in the emirate after policies regulating their use by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) led to a reduction of 87 million in the consumption of singleuse plastic bags since June 1.
The agency said on Sunday that it has witnessed the significant decline in the use of single-use plastic bags as people have been switching to alternative, more sustainable reusable bags with a lower environmental footprint. This positive change in consumer behaviour is being driven and supported by EAD’S ongoing education and awareness campaign, the agency added.
Since the implementation of the single-use plastic bag ban in Abu Dhabi in June, a team of inspectors from EAD, the Department of Economic Development and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has begun to carry out joint inspections of sales outlets in the emirate.
The inspections are designed to monitor compliance with the ban and educate outlets about the importance of replacing single-use bags with reusable ones that conform to the technical standards approved by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council.
The inspections have shown a very high compliance rate with the ban and the use of approved alternatives, said the EAD.
More than 80 per cent of outlets are committed to levying voluntary fees, including the main retail outlets in Abu Dhabi, which have signed a voluntary declaration to support the ban, and to secure alternatives, resources and financing to support environmental protection, and reduce the quantity of plastic materials sold across Abu Dhabi outlets.
In line with their commitment, the outlets charge a fee for each alternative reusable plastic shopping bag, with the aim of avoiding the use of bags whenever possible and reusing them when necessary.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD said: “The Single-use Plastic Policy in Abu Dhabi addresses the issue of plastic pollutants that leak into the environment and cause damage. We are exploring the use of sustainable solutions to solve this challenge in a manner that fully supports the Government's long-term vision for a greener future.
“By reducing the consumption of single-use plastics, the policy will also reduce emissions in line with the UAE'S Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. Further, the achievement of the policy's objectives will also help the waste sector divert 80 per cent of municipal solid waste in Abu Dhabi away from landfills.”
Al Dhaheri pointed out that the shift towards environmentally friendly consumption patterns confirms the commitment across society to supporting Abu Dhabi government's efforts in preserving the environment.
Moreover, 15 awareness sessions were organised, targeting different categories of youth and public and private sector institutions, as well as in the industrial and commercial sectors, with the total number of participants reaching 3,550 people.
In addition, 25 awareness materials were developed and shared about the Mission to Zero campaign with schools and EAD partners, from retailers, online stores and delivery platforms.
Additionally, seven actions were added in EAD'S BAADR application, which was recently launched by the Agency as a free, environmentally friendly smartphone app, designed to change the environmental behaviours of Abu Dhabi residents, and motivate them to lead in the process of positive transformation.
The Agency also focused its efforts on partnerships with more than 30 private and public entities, to develop a recovery system based on catalysts that contributes to collecting and recovering about 8,000 tons of plastic bottles over the next five years, which will go directly to the emirate's recycling sector.
This helps strengthen this vital sector in parallel with reducing the presence of these products in the environment. This year, over 30 million plastic bottles have been recovered, compared to 7.25 million in 2021, and around 850,000 are being collected weekly.