UAE | Environment
African answer to containing menace plastic bags
The South African Government imposed a blanket ban on all plastic bags thinner than 30 microns in 2003.
- Compiled by Sanya Nayeem, Community Journalist
- Published: 23:37 May 10, 2008
-
Dubai Municipality ends free ride
Dubai Municipality ends free ride
-
Greener path to the shop
German expat in UAE has not used plastic bag for over three decades
Dubai: The South African Government imposed a blanket ban on all plastic bags thinner than 30 microns in 2003.
The thickness of a human hair is 50 microns.
The plastic bag industry was given a year to phase out thin plastic bags and to replace them with thicker ones.
The South African Government collects a small environmental levy per shopping bag. The thicker plastic bags are more expensive to make, therefore it became too costly for retailers to give them away for free.
Shoppers were encouraged to re-use bags or use alternatives. Many people now use cloth or paper bags.
Taxes on durable bags helped to provide revenue for plastic bag recycling companies.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions estimated that the ban caused 3,800 workers in the plastic bag industry to lose their jobs.
However, many new jobs were created in recycling industries and other jobs in plastic manufacturing and the retail sectors were retained.
Share this article
Related Articles
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Festival expected to galvanise UAE's Pakistani community
- Free SMS offer for paid parking in Dubai
- UAE visitor admits to possessing fake notes
- Men get bail in Dubai due to lack of translator
- Security trial in UAE adjourned until December
- Colombia seeks stronger ties with UAE
- Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides glimpse of Indian culture
- Conference on combatting crime through sports begins
- Duo develop low energy desalting process
- Passer-by foils Dh2.5m robbery bid in Dubai
- Sharjah book fair to focus on innovative publishers
- UAE official urges corporate support for diabetes control initiatives
- Brothers deny vandalising plaintiff's car
- Over 6,000 Haj pilgrims to get vaccines
- Abu Dhabi residential city on track
Community Reports
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
