Page 354 - DUBAI MUNICIPALITY ENGLISH PR REPORT MAY 2024

6/6/24, 11:22 AM All About Dubai’s Complete Ban on All Single-Use Bags - Clean Middle East
All About Dubai’s Complete Ban on All Single-Use Bags

Starting June 1, 2024, Dubai will enforce a ban on all single-use bags, regardless of material.

Filed under
Sustainability

May 29, 2024

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The ban on single-use bags is part of Dubai‘s efforts to eliminate disposable items and promote a more sustainable,
greener environment. According to Dubai Municipality, bags that are thinner than 57 micrometers, whether composed of
paper, plastic, or recyclable materials will be banned. Specific exemptions will allow bags thicker than 58 micrometers
and bags for wrapping poultry and bread to continue to be used.

This ban on single-use materials is an essential part of Dubai’s wider environmental plan and follows after efficient
initiatives implemented in other UAE regions. For example, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi reports that since the
ban on single-use plastic bags was enacted in June 2022, the usage of single-use plastic has fallen by 95% in the first
year of the ban.
Dubai has outlined a plan for additional prohibitions in the upcoming years. On January 1, 2025, the ban will extend to
single-use plastic items like stirrers, tablecloths, cups, styrofoam food containers, straws, and cotton swabs. The ban will
also be applied to plastic cups, dinnerware, plates, and food containers by January 1, 2026. Penalties for non-compliance
with the ban will be enforced, with fines beginning at AED 200. Repeated violations within a year will increase to a
maximum of AED 2,000 hs. Customers are advised to notify the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism of any
non-compliant retailers.

The Dubai Municipality has released an awareness guide in both Arabic and English which will assist with the ban on
single-use bags. According to the recommendations, recyclable bags are not permitted as they need to be recycled at
specific facilities and, if disposed of in a landfill, can decompose into dangerous microplastics. The significance of this
guide was made clear by Mohammed Alrayees, the head of Dubai Municipality’s Waste Strategy and Projects
Department.
Dubai’s efforts represent a big step toward lowering plastic waste and encouraging its citizens to embrace more
environmentally friendly habits. Residents are encouraged to review the Dubai Municipality’s online guide for additional
in-depth information which offers answers to frequently asked questions for sustainable substitutes for single-use
plastics.

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