Five years after the Ajman Municipality issued a ban on the use of plastic bags, about 90 per cent of the commercial outlets in the emirate have made the switch to green alternatives like paper bags.

Yahya Al Reyaysa, Director-General of the municipality, said an initiative called ‘Day Without Plastic Bags' — which has been organised for the last four years — has helped in reducing the dependence on plastic bags.

As part of the initiative, which was launched in 2012, the municipality organised an awareness programme this year to educate the community about the importance of using paper bags in schools and shopping malls. The municipality distributed 15,000 brochures among the public as part of the programme.

Municipality inspectors visit the markets regularly to ensure that shops are using paper bags and other alternatives to plastic bags. "Our objective is to encourage citizens and residents in the emirate to cooperate with us in ensuring a healthy and green environment in the emirate,” he said.

Ajman was the first emirate to ban the use of plastic bags in 2010 after reports emerged of animals like camels dying after consuming them.

"Plastic bags pose risks to the environment as they take over 100 years to decompose. Popular areas like beaches and seashores are at risk as they are frequently visited by people,” he stated.

2016 to be plastic-free?

Humaid Abdullah Al Mualla, Director of the Department of Public Health and Environment at the municipality, is working towards making 2016 a year free of plastic bags in the emirate. "This requires cooperation between importers, shops and consumers.”

Outlets found using plastic bags are liable to be slapped with a Dh50,000 fine. The fine is doubled in case of repeat violations.

Khalid Al Hosani, Director of Health and Environment at the municipality, said the provisions of the municipal order issued by Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuami, Chairman of the Ajman Municipality, helped achieve its objectives. The third article of the order mandated plastic bag importers to contact the municipality to re-register and provide data of their companies which will be included in the records. They must get written approval before importing any type of plastic bags.

The fourth article warns commercial and industrial establishments against dealing with plastic bag importers who are not approved by the municipality.

The municipality allows only recyclable plastic bags which must bear stickers showing the name of the establishment and the period specified for recycling the bag.

Al Hosani said the municipality fined many importers who were found flouting the order, and non-recyclable bags imported to the emirate were confiscated. "We also banned plastic bag distributors based in the other emirates from distributing bags in Ajman's markets. We have a list of the factories producing plastic bags and the quantity produced, consumed and exported from the country.”
Source: Khaleej Times