Campaign: Drive to focus on hazards of plastics

Dubai: The excessive usage of plastic bags in supermarkets and stores is due to lack of awareness on the hazards of plastic to the environment.

In a statement, Omran Al Shihi, "UAE Free of Plastic Bags" Campaign Coordinator, said that most plastic bag factories do not abide by environment regulations.

The campaign is being launched by the Ministry of Environment and Water, in an effort to increase awareness on the hazards of plastic bags, and to motivate people to reduce use of plastic bags. Surveys by the Abu Dhabi Environment Authority for 2005 indicated that the UAE consumes one billion plastic bags a year.