Carrying reusable bags, providing alternatives: How UAE residents, grocers embracing single-use plastic ban

Carrying reusable bags, providing alternatives: How UAE residents, grocers embracing single-use plastic ban

Salespersons request shoppers make it a habit to carry sustainable and reusable choices

Image used for illustrative purpose. Photo: AFP

Published: Wed 11 Jan 2023, 3:42 PM Last updated: Wed 11 Jan 2023, 3:50 PM

The UAE is pushing toward a greener future and is moving closer to its strategy of achieving Net Zero by 2050. On Tuesday, the country announced a blanket ban on single-use plastic shopping bags from January 1, 2024.

Five emirates in the UAE have implemented a ban or regulated the use of single plastic bags. It came into effect in Abu Dhabi on June 1, 2022, while in Dubai, since July 1, retailers have been charging 25 fils per bag. Sharjah introduced a tariff per single-use plastic bag on October 1, 2022. Umm Al Quwain and Ajman imposed the ban from January 1, 2023.

This has prepared UAE residents to embrace the change, making it a habit to reduce the usage of single-use plastic bags. Shoppers have turned to sustainable initiatives.

Yaqoob Musba, a resident of Hamdan Street in Abu Dhabi, said it had become a habit to carry reusable bags whenever he steps out of his house. "We do not have a set time to go shopping, so we stock