Since the ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect on June 1, 2022, Abu Dhabi has saved 364 million single-use plastic bags from going to landfills. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) said that this amount is the equivalent of 2,400 tons of plastic or 547,000 tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs), equating to driving 130,000 gasoline passenger vehicles for one year.
“When we launched the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy in 2020, which was followed by the ban on single-use plastic bags in 2022, we were the first in the region to do so, setting very ambitious targets to meet our commitments to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change,” stated Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, secretary general of EAD.
Bottle Return Scheme saves 130 million bottles
In 2023, EAD also launched the incentive-based Bottle Return Scheme initiative to recover and recycle single-use plastic bottles. To date, the initiative has collected more than 130 million bottles from around 150 reverse vending machines, smart bins and door-to-door collections. The total amount of recyclable plastic reached 2,000 tons, enough to fill up to 80 truckloads. So far this year, 67 million bottles have been returned for recycling.
“We knew that a consumer change in behavior was the key to us being able to reduce the reliance on single-use plastics and nurture a culture of reuse and recycling. The Abu Dhabi community has proven to be more than collaborative and proactive,” added Al Dhaheri.
Styrofoam ban achieves 97 percent compliance rate
On June 1, 2024, EAD also imposed a ban on some styrofoam products. The agency reported a 97 percent compliance rate among retailers, with a prediction of further compliance improvements by the end of the year. These proactive measures by Abu Dhabi are a prelude to the federal ban on some styrofoam and plastic products which will become effective in 2026.
“Prior to the policy’s implementation, shoppers used three bags per shopping trip, but now only use 0.4 bags. This has also led to a 2,000 percent increase in the number of reusable bags in just one year, increasing from 603 bags in 2022 to 26,075 bags in 2023 at one of the emirate’s main outlets,” she added.
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57 new recycling companies established
The number of companies manufacturing single-use plastic products in Abu Dhabi declined from 110 in 2022 to 88 in 2023. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi witnessed the establishment of 57 new recycling companies working in the emirate’s waste sector. This contributes to enhancing the quality of life in the emirate and its sustainability and enhances the circular economy system.
“The results of a survey we conducted indicated that 84 percent of the public are aware of the policy and its requirements, and 82 percent said that the policy has a positive impact on quality of life, represented by clean beaches and waterways,” added Al Dhaheri.
Abu Dhabi’s environment agency predicts that the enforcement of the ban will have saved over 400 million single-use plastic bags by the end of this year. In the last nine months alone, consumption has decreased by 121.5 million bags. By the end of this year, the agency anticipates it will have collected 90 million single-use plastic bottles in 2024.
