Half the UAE backs ban on plastic waste

Half the residents of the UAE would support an outright ban on disposable coffee cups, foam egg boxes and plastic bags to tackle the planet’s escalating problem with plastic.

The statistic is one of the findings in a survey conducted by YouGov of 1,017 residents, which revealed widespread concern about single-use plastics.

Fifty-two per cent of respondents said they were “greatly concerned” about the use of plastic, with the greatest worry expressed by people who live in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Almost two thirds said excessive plastic waste is leading to environmental degradation.

Two out of five respondents said they were aware of government efforts to discourage plastic use. Recent legislation includes a federal law aimed at recycling 75 per cent of waste.

The UAE’s waste generation per capita is about 1.3 kilograms per day, which is among the world’s highest. About three quarters of that

ends up in landfills, according to figures released in May by the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment.

The You Gov survey also found that people aged 40 and above are the most worried about the impact of plastic.

Sixty-one per cent of those 40 and older reported concerns about the use of plastic in their cities, while more than three quarters said they are worried about the effect of plastic on the planet – more than younger generations.

People between 30 and 34 reuse plastic more than any other age bracket, at 81 per cent of respondents, according to the survey. People between 25 and 29 reuse plastic the least, at 72 per cent.

The vast majority of respondents, 83 per cent, said reducing plastic use was the best way to protect the environment. And of those, more than half said carrying a bottle to refill water and not using disposable plastic cutlery was key.

Respondents said they would support a ban on a range of plastic items, with disposable coffee cups, foam egg boxes, drinking straws, wet wipes and plastic bags being chief among them.

Plastic cutlery and excess plastic packaging for takeaway food was flagged as one of the biggest concerns in a discussion on the topic on the Plastic Free UAE Facebook

page, where members share tips on how to reduce plastic use.

Plastic bags were another big concern.

Other businesses across the UAE are starting to take a stand against plastic.

In June, Waitrose imposed a Dh0.25 charge per single-use plastic bag in its Abu Dhabi shops, with all proceeds to be donated to Emirates Wildlife Society.

The trial resulted in a 74 per cent reduction in their use.