Dubai implements "plastic ban" to encourage plastic recycling

        Dubai will ban the use of single-use plastic bags from January 1, 2024. This resolution, which was officially implemented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, aims to promote an environmentally friendly lifestyle and encourage companies to use recycled products and measures that are conducive to local sustainable recycling and recycling.

        It is understood that the resolution applies to single-use and recycled products, including plastic and non-plastic products, covering food delivery packaging materials, fruit and vegetable packaging, thick plastic bags, plastic bottles, snack bags, wet wipes, balloons and balloon sticks, etc. The ban will be implemented in stages:

        ◆From January 1, 2024: Applicable to disposable plastic bags.

        ◆From June 1, 2024: Disposable products made of non-plastic materials will be included in the ban.

        ◆From January 1, 2025: Disposable plastic products, including plastic stirrers, tableware, cups, polystyrene foam food containers, plastic straws and plastic cotton swabs will also be banned.

        ◆From January 1, 2026: It will be expanded to other disposable plastic products, including plastic plates, plastic food containers, plastic tableware, beverage cups and their plastic lids.

        Films used for food packaging are not included in the banned scope

        The plastic restriction today pointed out that rolls used to pack meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, public goods, bread and garbage bags are not included in the scope of disposable plastic bags banned this time. In addition, plastic bags made of recycled materials and plastic products exported to foreign countries are not included in the banned products.

        If businesses continue to use single-use plastic bags, they will be fined 200 dirhams (about 388 yuan), and the fine will be doubled for each violation within 12 months, up to 3,883 dirhams.

        Recycle PET plastic bottles to make cleaners' uniforms

        It is worth noting that the Dubai government has also launched the "Net Zero Emissions by 2050" initiative to encourage the government and private sector to improve waste management, increase the proportion and quality of recycled materials, and promote sustainable development, circular economy and waste recycling.

        For example, the Dubai government cooperated with the "DGRADE" company to recycle plastic bottles into cleaners' uniforms. It is understood that the project recycled 3 million plastic bottles (equivalent to about 60 tons of PET) to produce uniforms for municipal government employees. Dubai will become the first municipal government in the world to use recycled materials to produce valuable products for its employees.

        100 smart plastic packaging recycling devices have been set up

        The Dubai Municipality has also placed 100 smart plastic packaging recycling machines in government agencies, private enterprises and sports venues, and designated 17 recyclable material collection centers for public use in densely populated areas.

        The Dubai government said that through smart recycling equipment and recycling centers, more people can participate in the recycling of plastics. "These measures underscore Dubai Municipality's unwavering commitment to reducing the impact of waste, promoting recycling and supporting a green circular economy," concluded Dawud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality.