Following the success of the launch of its ‘Make UAE Plastic-Bag Free’ campaign, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is again working with its partners this Ramadan to raise awareness of the harmful effects of plastic bags and to encourage people to use reusable bags instead. This weekend, major retailers - Carrefour, Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society, Lulu Hypermarket, Spinneys and Abela – will be holding a ‘Plastic Bag-Free Weekend,’ which will see them distribute to shoppers canvas jute bags and leaflets promoting sustainable alternatives, in addition to organising exciting giveaways.

A competition on Emirate’s FM (95.8) Sabah Al Noor show is outlining the negative impacts of plastic bag use on our environment and our biodiversity. Throughout Ramadan, listeners have a chance to win AED18,000 worth of vouchers, courtesy of EAD’s retail partners.

In 2009, the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water issued a Ministerial Decision to implement a programme to reduce the use of plastic bags and ban the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in coordination with the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology. In February 2011, EAD with the support of the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water and in partnership with the Center for Waste Management – Abu Dhabi, launched a ‘Make UAE Plastic Bag-Free!’ campaign and weekend to encourage the community to switch from plastic to reusable bags. The initiative is in support of the government’s initiative to phase out the use of plastic bags in the UAE by 2013.

Plastic is harmful to our environment throughout its lifecycle. It uses up non-renewable sources of energy, such as oil and then once used, most end up in a landfill. Since plastic is not degradable, it ends up sitting in landfills (where it is largely disposed) for hundreds of years. Once it eventually does start to break down, toxic substances leak in to the soil and underground water sources causing a further hazard.
Plastic bags become litter and find their way into our sea, streets and deserts. Half the camel deaths each year in the UAE are due to camels ingesting plastic bags, according to a study carried out by the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water. Floating plastic bags also pose a threat to sea turtles and other biodiversity when they mistakenly swallow them for food.