Single-use plastic ban Dubai: 15 Things UAE parents might not realise about Dubai’s plastic-bag ban and charges. Costs and benefits – in full.
On Wednesday 1 June, Abu Dhabi became the first city in the Middle East to ban single-use plastic bags. This environmentally motivated ruling has been hailed as a historic move, and means that families doing their weekly shop in the capital will no longer have their groceries packed to take away in regular plastic shopping bags, as had been the norm until now. Instead they can pay for thicker plastic bags (from 50 fils upwards), which are recyclable and can be reused up to 10 times or more, or other alternative bags made from paper, cotton or jute.
On 1 July 2022 Dubai will also be introducing restrictions on the use of single-use plastic bags, but will start by charging a fee for disposable bags, before committing to a full ban in two years’ time.
However, Dubai arguably goes further in its green scheme in a number of ways that UAE families might not yet have realised.
Here’s what UAE families need to know about Dubai’s imminent plastic bag rules…
This is not just about plastic bags
It’s not only plastic bags that are being strongly discouraged and charged for in Dubai come July 1. It’s any single-use bag that is less than 57micrometers thick used to carry goods at the point of purchase. This includes supposedly more eco- friendly alternative bags made of:
– paper
– biodegradable plastic
– plant-based biodegradable materials
Paper bags and other ‘eco’ bags can actually be more harmful than plastic
Alternatives to plastic bags often have a larger environmental footprint than plastic bags, according to the Dubai Municipality – although they are easier to manage at the disposal stage and cause less environmental and health damage, provided they are used properly. Dubai Municipality says:
“The production of paper bags is also harmful to the environment and leads to the cutting of large quantities of trees and the consumption of great resources and energy, and therefore its use also requires the payment of fees. Single-use plastic bags have a lower environmental footprint than paper bags in the manufacturing stage, but their damages lie in the disposal stage. Paper bags have between three to seven times the environmental footprint of plastic bags in the manufacturing stage.”
Paper bag | Recycled plastic bag | Cotton bag | |
Ecological footprint | 7x plastic bag | 4x plastic bag | 131x the environmental footprint of plastic bags |
The UAE’s current use of plastic bags is deadly
An estimated 11 billion plastic bags are used in the UAE each year, equating to a shocking 1,182 plastic bags per person annually. The global average is just 307 plastic bags per person.
As convenient as it might be to have plastic bags dished out at the check-out to help you carry your goods home, their environmental impact in the emirates is nothing short of deadly. A study by a local authority found that about 86% of the sea turtles that were found dead on the beaches of some emirates in the country had consumed plastics thinking they were jellyfish. Plastic bags are also consumed by desert animals such as camels, goats and deer, which can lead to a fatal blocking of their digestive tract. A study by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency found that 50% of camel deaths were caused because they had consumed plastic.
Biodegradable bags are not the answer
Biodegradable plastic bags also have environmental damage, says Dubai Municipality, and therefore a 25 fils charge will apply to them as well. Biodegradable plastic bags do not completely decompose but leave behind micro-plastics that can be consumed by the marine life we eat. As the objective of the policy is to reduce single-use bags, plant-based single-use bags are also included under the tariff.
There will be no free alternatives to plastic bags in stores
The whole point of Dubai’s new rules is to encourage more sustainable consumer behaviour by nudging people to carry their own, long-term, reusable bags. Because of the harmful impact that all single-use bags can have at different stages – regardless of their material – shops are not obliged to provide free alternative bags, and are required to charge at least 25 fils for any bag that is given at the point of purchase that is 57 micometers thick or less.
If you don’t bring your own bags, your shopping bill will be higher. Fact.
It’s no secret that inflation is driving up the cost of everything worldwide, so most UAE families are grappling to save money wherever they can. However, from July 1, all stores in Dubai must apply a charge of 25 Fils for each single-use bag, and a different charge can be placed on sustainable (reusable) alternatives if provided by the store. The charge applies to all single-use bags for carrying goods, including paper bags with a thickness of less than 57 micrometers. The cost for each bag will be be added like any other item recorded on the bill at the time of purchase.
Shops can charge what they like for bags
The minimum charge for single-use bags from July 1 is 25 Fils. There is no maximum charge mentioned in the Municipality’s guidelines, and there is no limit to the number of bags that shoppers can purchase.
But the Government wants shops to donate the fees
Shops get to keep the money they charge for single-use bags bought at the point of purchase – although Dubai Municipality’s guidance says they are encouraged to donate that money to support sustainable initiatives either through the company or through local environmental and community associations. We think that there is a strong case for revenue to be distributed to environmental projects in UAE schools.
There are no exempted store types
While exclusions to the Abu Dhabi plastic-bag ban include bags used by pharmacies for medicines and large shopping bags designed for fashion or electronic gadgets, in Dubai the charge applies to all stores that use single-use bags to carry goods, including:
- retail stores;
- restaurants;
- pharmacies;
- e-commerce services; and,
- delivery services.
Using reusable shopping bags is perfectly safe
Most multi-use shopping bags are made from materials that are cleanable, washable and recyclable, so it is perfectly hygienic to use them instead of single-use bags.
…Although the charge does not apply only in these specific areas
Due to sanitary concerns, the policy does not include packing bags for meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. The policy includes only single-use bags for “carrying goods”.
The charge also includes bags of products that are purchased online
The policy applies to online purchase sites if they use single-use bags to carry goods.
Charging for bags is just the beginning of Dubai’s green plans
Cities and countries (more than 90 countries globally) have followed different policies, some of which focus on bans and others on imposing charges on single-use bags.
Dubai Municipality says that imposing charges is the first step to changing behaviour in society and then reducing the amount of waste and environmental damage caused by single-use bags. A full ban will come into force in two years’ time.
You can report non-compliant outlets
If you notice any stores that are not charging for single-use bags come July 1, you can register a complaint with the consumer protection channels of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai through the “Dubai Consumer” application on smart phones, the website www.consumerrights.ae or the Call Centre 600545555.
There are lots of other things you can do to help
The point of Dubai’s green fee on single-use bags is not to generate money, but to encourage UAE families to reduce consumption in general. Reducing our use of single-use materials must happen first, before addressing the issue of recycling. This can be done by purchasing materials without packaging such as vegetables and fruits and not asking for single-use cutlery and straws when buying food, as well by installing a water filter for drinking at home, which will reduce the need to purchase single-use water bottles.
Next, it is important to sort your waste at home, separating the recyclable waste such as paper, metal, plastic and glass from other household wastes, taking care to keep the recyclables clean in order to reduce their pollution, especially from food waste, which will limit the capacity of their recycling. Find out more about recycling in Dubai here.
If you have unwanted items that you would like to dispose of in an environmentally sound manner, for example, clothes or books or toys or household items, and you can donate them to charitable organizations that you see suitable. You can also recycle other items such as plastics, paper, glass, bottles, portable electronics, cartons and metal cans at the recyclable material collection centre nearest to your location.
Feeling some eco guilt? Here are 10 simple things you can do today to help the planet.
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