emirates7 - The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced that 364 million single-use plastic bags have been eliminated since the implementation of the ban on 1st June 2022, as part of Abu Dhabi’s Single-Use Plastic Policy.
This reduction is equivalent to 2,400 tonnes of plastic or 547,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), comparable to the emissions produced by 130,000 gasoline-powered vehicles driven for a year.
In 2023, EAD introduced the ‘Incentive-based Bottle Return Scheme’ in collaboration with key partners to recover and recycle single-use plastic bottles. To date, over 130 million bottles have been collected through approximately 150 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), smart bins, and door-to-door collections. This initiative has successfully recovered 2,000 tonnes of recyclable plastic, equivalent to 80 truckloads. In 2024 alone, 67 million bottles have already been returned for recycling.
Building on these efforts, EAD implemented a ban on specific Styrofoam products starting 1st June 2024. The Agency has reported a 97% compliance rate among retailers, with expectations for further improvement by the end of the year.
These initiatives align with the upcoming Federal ban on certain Styrofoam and plastic products, scheduled to take effect in 2026.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, emphasized the emirate’s leadership in the region, noting, “When we launched the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy in 2020, followed by the 2022 ban on single-use plastic bags, we set ambitious targets to protect the environment and combat climate change.”
She highlighted the importance of consumer behavior in achieving these goals, stating, “Behavioral change among consumers has been pivotal in reducing dependency on single-use plastics and fostering a culture of reuse and recycling. The Abu Dhabi community has been exceptionally proactive, achieving a 95% reduction in single-use plastic bags distributed at cash counters over the past two years.”
Dr. Al Dhaheri added that the number of reusable bags has surged by 2,000%, from 603 in 2022 to 26,075 in 2023 at one major outlet. Additionally, the emirate has recovered 130 million plastic bottles and seen a rise in recycling companies. The number of firms manufacturing single-use plastic products decreased from 110 in 2022 to 88 in 2023, while 57 new recycling companies have been established, bolstering Abu Dhabi’s circular economy and sustainability efforts.
She commended the residents of Abu Dhabi for embracing reusable bags and utilizing RVMs for bottle recycling. A recent survey revealed that 84% of the public are aware of the policy, and 82% believe it positively impacts quality of life, reflected in cleaner beaches and waterways.
Dr. Al Dhaheri also expressed gratitude to strategic partners, including the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and retailers, for supporting the transition to alternatives and aiding in the Styrofoam product ban.
EAD projects that the ban will have prevented the use of over 400 million single-use plastic bags by the end of 2024. In the past nine months, 121.5 million fewer bags were consumed, and the Agency expects to collect a total of 90 million single-use plastic bottles by year’s end.
This reduction is equivalent to 2,400 tonnes of plastic or 547,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), comparable to the emissions produced by 130,000 gasoline-powered vehicles driven for a year.
In 2023, EAD introduced the ‘Incentive-based Bottle Return Scheme’ in collaboration with key partners to recover and recycle single-use plastic bottles. To date, over 130 million bottles have been collected through approximately 150 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), smart bins, and door-to-door collections. This initiative has successfully recovered 2,000 tonnes of recyclable plastic, equivalent to 80 truckloads. In 2024 alone, 67 million bottles have already been returned for recycling.
Building on these efforts, EAD implemented a ban on specific Styrofoam products starting 1st June 2024. The Agency has reported a 97% compliance rate among retailers, with expectations for further improvement by the end of the year.
These initiatives align with the upcoming Federal ban on certain Styrofoam and plastic products, scheduled to take effect in 2026.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, emphasized the emirate’s leadership in the region, noting, “When we launched the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy in 2020, followed by the 2022 ban on single-use plastic bags, we set ambitious targets to protect the environment and combat climate change.”
She highlighted the importance of consumer behavior in achieving these goals, stating, “Behavioral change among consumers has been pivotal in reducing dependency on single-use plastics and fostering a culture of reuse and recycling. The Abu Dhabi community has been exceptionally proactive, achieving a 95% reduction in single-use plastic bags distributed at cash counters over the past two years.”
Dr. Al Dhaheri added that the number of reusable bags has surged by 2,000%, from 603 in 2022 to 26,075 in 2023 at one major outlet. Additionally, the emirate has recovered 130 million plastic bottles and seen a rise in recycling companies. The number of firms manufacturing single-use plastic products decreased from 110 in 2022 to 88 in 2023, while 57 new recycling companies have been established, bolstering Abu Dhabi’s circular economy and sustainability efforts.
She commended the residents of Abu Dhabi for embracing reusable bags and utilizing RVMs for bottle recycling. A recent survey revealed that 84% of the public are aware of the policy, and 82% believe it positively impacts quality of life, reflected in cleaner beaches and waterways.
Dr. Al Dhaheri also expressed gratitude to strategic partners, including the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and retailers, for supporting the transition to alternatives and aiding in the Styrofoam product ban.
EAD projects that the ban will have prevented the use of over 400 million single-use plastic bags by the end of 2024. In the past nine months, 121.5 million fewer bags were consumed, and the Agency expects to collect a total of 90 million single-use plastic bottles by year’s end.