The savings equated to a reduction of approximately 2,400t of plastic. Credit: Roman Striga/Shutterstock.

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has reported a conservation of 364 million single-use plastic bags following the implementation of the ban on them on 1 June 2022, in alignment with the emirate’s Single-Use Plastic Policy.

These savings equated to a reduction of approximately 2,400t of plastic.

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The EAD’s approach to environmental conservation includes the 2023 launch of the Incentive-based Bottle Return Scheme.

This initiative, in partnership with key stakeholders, has collected over 130 million single-use plastic bottles through various methods, including smart bins, reverse vending machines (RVMs), and door-to-door collections, leading to the recovery of 2,000t of recyclable plastic.

In a further effort to combat plastic pollution, the EAD introduced a ban on certain Styrofoam products on 1 June 2024, achieving a 97% compliance rate among retailers.

This is in anticipation of a broader federal ban on targeted Styrofoam and plastic products set for 2026.

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EAD Secretary General Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri said: “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% 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.

“Despite the decrease in the number of companies manufacturing single-use plastic products in Abu Dhabi – from 110 in 2022 to 88 in 2023 – we witnessed the establishment of 57 new recycling companies working in the emirate’s waste sector, which contributes to enhancing the quality of life and its sustainability, and enhances the circular economy system.”

The agency forecasts that by the end of the year, the ban will have resulted in over 400 million single-use plastic bags saved, with a nine-month decrease of 121.5 million bags.

Looking ahead, the EAD expects to continue its positive environmental impact, with an anticipated collection of 90 million single-use plastic bottles by the end of this year.