The UAE government announced the immediate and official ban on single-use Styrofoam cups, lids, plates, beverage containers and food containers for immediate consumption.
The ban was officially imposed as of June 1
The UAE government said that the ban will be officially imposed as of June 1, according to what was confirmed by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi this morning, through its official account on the “X” website, “formerly Twitter.”
This ban is scheduled to apply to many products commonly used in markets, cafes, and restaurants, including cups, lids, plates, beverage containers, and food containers for immediate consumption.
Styrofoam products exempt from the ban
However, the Environment Agency and the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi announced that a number of Styrofoam products have been exempted from the ban, and the list included the following:
- Reusable storage boxes
- Coolers
- Items intended for medical use
It is worth noting that these decisions by the Environment Agency come within the framework of the sustainability goals announced by the government of the United Arab Emirates, and this decision is an extension of Abu Dhabi’s policy for single-use plastics,
Ban on single-use plastic bags
It is also noteworthy that Abu Dhabi has announced a ban on the trading and sale of single-use plastic bags starting from June 1, 2022, and this decision contributed to a 95% decrease in use. Of these bags.
It is also noteworthy that a number of other emirates in the United Arab Emirates have also imposed a similar ban on single-use plastic products. In Sharjah, the ban began on January 1, 2024, and the emirate announced on April 22 that the municipality had stopped manufacturing single-use plastic bags.
Banning single-use plastics in Dubai
On January 1, 2024, Dubai also declared a ban on single-use plastics and fined offenders up to Dh2,000.
Following the federal government's January 2023 announcement of the UAE's complete ban on single-use plastic starting in 2024, this restriction was implemented.