Abu Dhabi prohibits use of Styrofoam cups and takeaway boxes

The UAE country of Abu Dhabi has announced a Styrofoam and takeaway box ban from June 1 to tackle plastic pollution. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced on Tuesday the implementation of a ban on styrofoam products in the emirate effective June 1, 2024. This ban falls under the EAD’s ‘single-use plastic policy’, which the authority launched in 2020.

The use of single-use cups, lids, plates and takeaway containers made from expanded polystyrene will be banned.

Abu Dhabi listed some exemptions to the Styrofoam ban, including products that are not single-use like big storage boxes and coolers. Moreover, it exempted trays used for meat, fruit, ready-made dairy products, and other food items for retail sale. Moreover, exemptions include products designed for medical use.

The decision will contribute to litter reduction in the environment as Styrofoam in particular tends to be easily broken down into miniscule pieces which can enter the food chain and have adverse impact on the human health and biodiversity.

“We want to make life easy for consumers whilst at the same time protecting our environment and the ban is deliberate in making sure that only avoidable single use plastics are banned and in place of them there are clearly sustainable replacements on the table. We are also going to support key players in the public and private sector to make the shift to reusable alternatives.”

Single use plastic bags were also banned by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency in June 2022. Dhaheri noted that the ban has removed 310 million bags from the market up by April 2024.