Dubai Government set to ban plastic bags from June 1st!

When one thinks of Dubai, you wouldn’t picture anything short of the future. A city that’s always one step ahead of the rest, from the finest towers in the world to setting world records in sustainability - nothing is slowing this city down.

In a move to reduce carbon emissions and increase sustainable measures across the city - Dubai Municipality has announced a ban on all single-use plastics, starting June 1st.

Here’s everything you need to keep in mind!

Understanding Dubai’s ban on single-use plastics:

This new ban includes a prohibition on not just plastic bags, but also paper bags and biodegradable alternatives that are thinner than 57 micrometres.

The move is part of a larger initiative to phase out single-use products by 2026 in Dubai, coming in line with Dubai's commitment to promoting a healthier ecosystem by 2033.

Why is Dubai banning single-use plastic?

The primary aim of this ban is to mitigate the environmental impact which has been caused by single-use plastics.

Marine life in the UAE has suffered the most, as we have seen 86% of dead turtles found on beaches having ingested plastic materials. Additionally, the consumption of plastic bags by animals has led to 50% of camel deaths in the UAE. Plus, plastics also take over 400 years to decompose, which means their negative impact on the environment can persist for centuries, harming not only animals but humans in the long term too.

The secondary aim of this ban is to shift residents’ behaviour towards opting for more sustainable practices and reducing the environmental footprint in the city.

By eliminating single-use bags, Dubai Municipality is striving to contribute to a healthier environment, which is free of non-biodegradable materials such as plastic.

What can we expect from this ban?

The ban will be set out over the course of two years with three different phases.

The first phase will start on June 1, 2024 - where the ban will only apply to plastic bags, and other non-plastic single-use products, such as single-use bags.

The second phase, which will start on January 1, 2025, will ban all single-use plastic products, including plastic stirrers, table covers, cups, styrofoam food containers, plastic straws, and plastic cotton swabs.

The final phase three will start on January 1, 2026, where the ban will extend to other single-use plastic products including plastic plates, plastic food containers, plastic tableware, and beverage cups and their plastic lids.

Make sure to have your cotton, biodegradable bags handy at all times when shopping out!

Impressive, isn’t it?

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