Abu Dhabi is leading the charge with its plastic free initiative (all thanks to you)

Time Out Abu Dhabi

30-04-2025

Abu Dhabi is absolutely smashing it in the battle against plastic waste, and the numbers back it up.
Since the launch of its game-changing single-use plastic policy in 2022, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has made major moves in slashing plastic consumption and boosting recycling efforts.
The Bottle Return Scheme alone has recovered more than 2,000 tonnes (or 80 truckloads) of bottles since 2023, thanks to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). And that's just the beginning.
That's over 130 million plastic bottles which have been collected through 150 reverse vending machines (RVMs), smart bins, and door-to-door collections.
Reverse Vending Machines
Teaming up with cleantech powerhouse Sparklo, the EAD collected a whopping 23 million recyclables in 2024. That includes over 544,000kg of plastic and 18,000kg of aluminium – all neatly sorted and saved from landfill doom.
It's a major win for the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy, which has been encouraging residents to rethink their recycling habits and chuck their empties in the right places.
If you've spotted a slick-looking machine at ADNOC, Lulu, or Carrefour stores, chances are you've come face-to-face with a Sparklomat. These clever collection points have made bottle and can returns a breeze, with one superstar machine even handling more than 8,500 items in a single day.
All this effort has had a real impact. The scheme has helped prevent over 3.5 million kg of CO₂ emissions, keeping the capital on track to meet its bold 22 percent carbon emissions reduction goal by 2027.
Next up: the ban on single-use plastic bags. The results? A jaw-dropping 364 million fewer plastic bags floating around – that's 2,400 tonnes of plastic or the carbon footprint of 130,000 gas-guzzling cars annually. Talk about a win for the planet.
Consumers have *really* stepped up to the challenge, too. Shoppers are now using just 0.4 plastic bags per trip (that's a huge drop from the three bags they used to grab) go, team! And reusable bags? They've seen a 2,000 percent jump, with a whopping 26,075 bags sold in 2023 compared to just 603 the year before.
As if that wasn't enough, on 1 June 2024, Abu Dhabi banned certain styrofoam products, and retailers are all in, with 97 percent compliance. This move is part of the city's grand plan ahead of the federal ban in 2026 on plastic and styrofoam products.
A recent survey shows that 84 percent of residents know about the policy, and 82 percent say it's made their lives better by contributing to cleaner beaches and waterways.
How do the reverse vending machines work?
You'll first need to have the Tadweer Rewards app downloaded on your phone. Head to one of the 25 RVMs around Abu Dhabi and insert your used plastic bottle or aluminium can. AI cameras will scan the items and then a QR code will be shown on the screen.
When you scan that code, the credit points will then be added to your app, which you can redeem on vouchers or discounts. How handy is that?
Your points can be used when you purchase from partners, including:
Noon.com
Amazon
Lufthansa
Gourmet Lab
Max, Brands for Less
Filli
Emax
Dreamworks Spa
Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said: 'When we launched the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy in 2020, which was followed by the ban on single-use plastic bags in 2022, we were the first in the region to do so, setting very ambitious targets to meet our commitments to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change.
'We knew that a consumer change in behaviour was the key to us being able to reduce the reliance on single-use plastics and nurture a culture of reuse and recycling. The Abu Dhabi community has proven to be more than collaborative and proactive, and as a result, we have recorded, during the past two years alone, a significant reduction of 364 million plastic bags. For context, this represents a 95 per cent reduction in the total number of plastic bags distributed at the emirate's cash counters. Prior to the policy's implementation, shoppers used three bags per shopping trip, but now only use 0.4 bags. This has also led to a 2,000 per cent increase in the number of reusable bags in just one year, increasing from 603 bags in 2022 to 26,075 bags in 2023 at one of the emirate's main outlets. We also recorded the recovery of 130 million plastic bottles, and an increase in the number of companies concerned with recycling plastics in the emirate.
'Despite the decrease in the number of companies manufacturing single-use plastic products in Abu Dhabi – from 110 in 2022 to 88 in 2023 – we witnessed the establishment of 57 new recycling companies working in the emirate's waste sector, which contributes to enhancing the quality of life and its sustainability, and enhances the circular economy system.
'We are delighted, as the residents of Abu Dhabi made an effort to embrace reusable bags and return their bottles to the Reverse Vending Machines for recycling, which has hugely contributed to our success. The results of a survey we conducted indicated that 84 per cent of the public are aware of the policy and its requirements, and 82 per cent said that the policy has a positive impact on quality of life, represented by clean beaches and waterways.
'We could not have achieved our ambitious goals without the cooperation of our strategic partners, including the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and retailers, who have worked closely with us to provide alternatives to single-use plastic products, in addition to helping us implement the ban on Styrofoam products.
'We are well on the way to having a positive impact on our environment as we reduce the amount of microplastic entering our precious ecosystems and harming our species.'
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