Abu Dhabi to be free of single-use plastic bags by 2021 New policy launched by Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi targets reduction of single-use plastics in the emirate Abu Dhabi, UAE: 9 March 2020: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) have today announced a new policy to reduce single-use plastic materials in Abu Dhabi, mitigating its harmful effects. The comprehensive policy, which is the firstof-its-kind in the region, aims to keep plastics out of the environment and eliminate the use of avoidable single-use plastic and non-plastic materials by 2021 through fostering a culture of recycling and re-use and encouraging more sustainable practices in the community. One of the key aspects of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)’s policy is focused on making Abu Dhabi free of single-use plastic bags by 2021. The policy continues the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, who had a deep passion for preserving the environ-
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ment and achieving sustainability. Under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), the policy is part of the Abu Dhabi Government’s efforts to increase sustainability and improve the environment through the ‘Ghadan 21’programme that is accelerating the development of the Abu Dhabi economy and investing in the community. Developed in line with international standards, the policy will be implemented over the next two years (2020-21) in co-ordination with government and private stakeholders and has been prepared with the support of Emirates Nature WWF and 12 other government entities, including the Department of Economic Development. Six major outlets and many private sector entities producing plastic materials in Abu Dhabi were also involved. The scope of the policy includes developing regulations to limit the use of targeted single use plastics in Abu Dhabi gradually with a phased approach with incentives to target consumption of single use plastic bags through fees and then banning them, introduce fees on single use plastics with available sustainable alternatives and prevent free distribution of such items to the end user. To realize Abu Dhabi’s vision for an environ-
