From Wednesday, retail stores in Abu Dhabi began implementing a ban on the use of single-use plastic bags.
The ban on the use of single-use plastic bags was announced last April, as part of the implementation of the integrated policy for single-use plastics launched by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi in 2020.
Dr. Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Business Center, Ahmed Tarish Al Qubaisi, Director of the Monitoring and Inspection Department of the Department of Economic Development, and Dr. Maryam Hareb Al Suwaidi, Acting Deputy Director General for Operational Affairs, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Safety Authority The Food Bank conducted a field tour of a number of major retail outlets in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, to verify their compliance with the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags.
The tour included four retail outlets: Lulu, Al Mushrif Mall branch, Spinneys, Al Muroor Street branch, Carrefour, Airport Street branch, and Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society, Al Muroor Street branch.
The retail outlets offered reusable bags for a nominal fee to give customers the opportunity to reuse them when needed and encourage them to adopt a positive attitude towards the environment by avoiding the use of single-use plastic bags.
During the tour, Dr. Sheikha Al Dhaheri said: Today is an important day in the history of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as we implement the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags within the framework of the policy of single-use plastics.
She added, “We are pleased to see today the major retail outlets in Abu Dhabi committed to implementing the ban by providing alternatives to single-use plastic bags that are environmentally friendly. These positive and proactive changes by the retail outlets will allow us to achieve our goal of promoting sustainable lives for all residents. in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
And she continued: The government’s goal with the single-use plastics policy is to provide a more sustainable lifestyle for citizens, residents and visitors in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
She continued, “We understand that change takes time, and we believe that the community can take positive steps towards using reusable bags as a step that contributes to providing a healthy environment for all in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Business Center, affiliated with the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, said: We are proud to participate in this important initiative with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, as it reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision of sustainability, and the “Abu Dhabi Economy” is committed to ensuring the provision of appropriate conditions for doing business and protecting consumers. Especially with regard to their safety and environmental protection, the proactive approach of major retail outlets companies to support the implementation of the single-use plastics policy in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi reflects the high awareness of these institutions on environmental issues, and their desire to make positive changes in line with Abu Dhabi’s strategic objectives.
For her part, Dr. Maryam Hareb Al-Suwaidi said: We are proud to participate in this initiative and start implementing the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags and replacing them with biodegradable plastic bags, and we will work in cooperation with the Environment Agency to educate the community about the dangers of non-biodegradable plastic bags and their environmentally friendly alternatives, and raise awareness Societal use of rational and sustainable consumption of our natural resources by reducing the negative impacts of non-biodegradable plastic bags on human health, other living organisms and the environment.
She added, “We encourage store owners and retail stores to abide by the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags, and we invite them to encourage consumers to positively interact with alternatives to single-use plastic bags,” noting that plastic bags are made from non-renewable sources, and contribute significantly to climate change. soil and water pollution.
Al Suwaidi explained that Abu Dhabi enjoys a distinguished global position in the field of environmental sustainability, and this initiative will enhance this position and contribute to reducing the impact of individuals on the environment, adopting sustainable alternatives and eliminating excessive consumption of non-biodegradable plastic bags.
To ensure the successful implementation of this ban, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi will implement a large-scale awareness campaign to encourage community members to play a role in protecting the environment, and to inform them of the available alternatives to environmentally friendly single-use plastic bags.
The authority works closely with all concerned authorities from the government and private sectors to ensure the success of banning single-use plastic bags, as the past period witnessed the participation of many concerned authorities in its application, which will contribute to the entry into force of the ban.
The authority will continue to work with major retail outlets and smaller grocery stores to raise their awareness of the negative effects of single-use plastic bags and urge them to provide alternatives for a small fee.
The authority is also currently working on developing measures to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic materials and raise the efficiency of consumption of about 16 single-use plastic products. year 2024.
During the past week, a group of senior executives of major retail outlet companies in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi signed a voluntary declaration in which they committed to support the implementation of the policy of single-use plastics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which was launched by the authority in March 2020 and its legislation to ensure the cleanliness of the emirate’s marine and terrestrial environment. Among the single-use plastic waste.. The signatories included Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society and Spar, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Choithrams, Spence and Waitrose.
