Pricey Plastic: Pay 25 fils for single-use plastic bags
Dubai will introduce a charge of 25 fils for single-use plastic bags from July 1.
The emirate’s Executive Council said the charge will apply to single-use bags in all stores, including retail, clothing, restaurants, pharmacies, delivery orders and e-commerce orders.
The authorities said the charge will be evaluated in stages before single-use plastic bags are banned completely in two years. Awareness campaigns will also be carried out in the coming weeks across all sectors, including schools and universities, to encourage the private sector to provide sustainable alternatives in shops, such as reusable bags.
Globally, almost 300 million tonnes of plastic pollution are produced each year, the equivalent weight of the human race, according to figures released by the UN Environment Programme.
Only nine per cent of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills, dumps or the natural environment. The UN estimated if current trends continue, the ocean could contain more plastic than fish by the year 2050.
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