Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Umm Al Quwain will prohibit single-use plastics beginning January 1, 2023. All bags must be biodegradable, multi-use, or made of paper or woven cloth, according to a decision by the Executive Council of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain. The Umm Al Quwain Municipality will implement the new policy. They will also be in charge of identifying rule exceptions. Beginning next year, retailers must charge an additional 25 fils per plastic bag used by customers. This is done in preparation for the emirate's total ban on single-use plastic bags. The rule change will be accompanied by public awareness campaigns to encourage consumers to reduce their use of pollutants and switch to more environmentally friendly alternatives. The ban in Umm Al Quwain follows similar ones in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. A ban on single-use plastics went into effect in Abu Dhabi on June 1, while retailers in Dubai have been charging 25 fils per bag since July 1. Interestingly, retailers in Dubai told Khaleej Times that the use of such bags had dropped by 40% in a month. BKM/ Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page