Sharjah: The use of rigid plastic cups is to be banned, Sharjah Municipality announced yesterday in a circular.
All plastic cups made from rigid polystyrene used to serve hot drinks will be banned next month, according to the directions of Abdullah Al Ameri, Director-General of Sharjah Municipality. The plastic cups are to be replaced by other plastics that are in-line with health and safety regulations, and that can bear temperatures of 100C.
Grace period
Cafeterias and all food outlets serving hot drinks in plastic cups have been given a grace period of one month, in order to allow enough time for restaurant owners to adjust to the ban and purchase foam polystyrene or paper cups instead.
The disposable cups used to serve hot drinks should have information on them saying they can withstand temperatures of more than 100C, declared the circular issued to restaurants and cafeterias.
According to a report rigid polystyrene cannot withstand the temperature of boiling water, said a municipality official. The inability to contain such high temperatures means the material is able to contaminate the hot drink. The banning of plastic cups follows the move by Dubai Municipality, who issued the same order in April.
Information
Both emirates emphasise that cups must contain information about what they are made of, and cups used to serve hot drinks should be made out of foam polystyrene or paper and be able to withstand temperatures of 100C.
