Abu Dhabi Sees Major Reduction in Plastic Bag Usage Following Ban

With the 2022 prohibition on single-use plastics in the emirate, an estimated 364 million plastic bags already avoided which is a major reduction in plastic bag usage. Thus, Abu Dhabi became a champion in the green initiative against plastic waste. The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) proclaimed such success yesterday, stating the environment as a return on investment in such a policy.

In total, more than 130 million plastic bottles have also been recovered in the emirate since the farming of the prohibition. According to the EAD, the overall reduction in plastic bag usage translates into saving 2,400 tonnes of plastics and preventing almost 547,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to emissions from almost 130,000 gasoline-powered vehicles driven for a year.

About 0.4 bags consumed per trip now, from three plastic bags typically used every trip on shopping trips before the ban, said EAD Secretary-General Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri. This has resulted in a huge surge in the number of reusable bags, with a growth of over 2,000% in just one year. For example, one major outlet in the emirate recorded a rise in reusable bags from 603 in 2022 to 26,075 in 2023.

As per findings of an EAD-recently conducted survey, 84% of the public were aware of the policy and its demands, while 82% considered it has improved people`s quality of life in terms of cleanliness in beaches and waterways.

According to EAD estimates, by 2024-end, the number of single-use plastic bags saved will have crossed the 400 million mark, having already eliminated 121.5 million in the first nine months of this year. The agency also expects to save nearly 90 million plastic bottles by the end of this year.

Through all these activities, the EAD will ban some Styrofoam articles beginning at June 1, 2024. Retailers have reported that 97% of them abide by this new rule, and more improvements from them are expected. These activities are included in the overall environmental objectives of Abu Dhabi, which is used in conjunction with future federal bans on targeted Styrofoam and plastic products to be enacted in 2026.