Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality has issued the restrictions on the use of plastic bags, further to the ministerial resolution that bans institutions, companies, and shopping centers from using single-use plastic bags as of November 15.
The new decision mandates the best investment in waste recycling as well as the usage of environmentally friendly alternatives to meet the nation’s strategic goals in conserving the environment.
This is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to codify the legislative system related to solid waste management.
Multi-use bags or biodegradable plastic bags have been suggested as alternatives to single-use bags.
Together with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Municipality has worked to enforce this requirement at a number of establishments, including large malls, supermarkets, and grocery stores.
The local governments’ health control departments will be in charge of monitoring the order execution.
Single-use plastic bags: Bags made of plastic, from plastic flakes or fabric, with a thickness of fewer than 40 microns, and used once as packaging material, before being dumped or recycled.
Plastic bags for multiple uses: Bags made of plastic, from flakes or plastic fabric, with thicknesses between 40 and 60 microns, and are intended to be used several times, as packaging material.
