Plastic bags could be banned in Dubai

Dubai: Dubai could easily ban plastic bags similarly to some cities in Europe and the US, according to the waste management department at Dubai Municipality. The issue was recently discussed by officials to slowly eliminate plastic by 15 per cent every year.

One option of dealing with waste, aside from recycling, is to generate electricity with it, through waste-to-energy projects. "Dubai is a very dynamic city and as such, the waste management schemes to be adapted will be flexible according to its needs. All viable and appropriate systems, from waste generation to waste minimisation, treatment and disposal, recycling and waste-to-energy will be looked into," said Hassan Makki, director of the Waste Management Department.

"Dubai Municipality is currently working with an international consultant to undertake the study and implementation of a waste-to-energy project that will utilise municipal waste to produce electricity. The project is still in its early stages, hence details such as location, capacity, and technology are still being studied," said Makki.

In a discussion organised by the Ministry of Environment and Water, experts discussed a plan to reduce the use of polythene bags by 15 per cent every year until they are banned completely. According to Al Jasmi this is the equivalent of around 1,600 tonnes of plastic a day.

"Dubai can easily ban plastic bags ... by implementing regulations for all customers to provide their own bags made of paper, or other biodegradable plastic bags. In the last meeting it was decided the Ministry of Environment and municipalities will study alternatives to plastic bags," he told Gulf News. Approximately 14 million plastic bags are distributed every year in Dubai.