Latest news with #plasticban
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Government cracks down on businesses violating new product ban: 'For overall protection of ... public health'
Cities around the world are instituting bans on plastic bags in an effort to reduce single-use plastics. In Islamabad, Pakistan, officials are refreshing the city's efforts to reduce plastic waste. As The News reported, employees from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, along with city officials, have been running inspections in major commercial hubs around the city. While the inspections have discovered hundreds of kilograms of banned plastic materials, many businesses were in compliance with the regulations. "This crackdown is part of our sustained efforts to enforce the Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023, so as to reduce plastic pollution in the capital city and its adjoining areas for overall protection of environment and public health," Pak-EPA Director General Nazia Zeb Ali told The News. The strict enforcement of the regulations may seem tough, but they demonstrate the city's commitment to sustainable action. However, these sustainable moves are not without their criticisms. For one, plastic is inexpensive. Requiring alternatives can be more costly to businesses or to consumers, who may have to purchase paper or reusable bags. It can also put more pressure on consumers to remember reusable bags and to be more prepared for shopping. Many consumers also reuse plastic bags from shopping for a variety of purposes, including as garbage bags. Some argue that the extra energy and resources to make trash bags or paper bags nullify the potential savings from a ban. On the other hand, bag bans reduce both the amount of plastic bags and other items in landfills and bags littering the streets. Plastic straws, for instance, can take 200 years to break down. Should plastic grocery bags be banned nationwide? Absolutely No way Let each state decide I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Bans on plastic help to reduce our reliance on dirty energy sources like crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Interestingly, The Hague in the Netherlands recently banned public advertisements for dirty energy sources. Many cities around the world have instituted similar bans on plastic bags or single-use plastic items, such as Alberta, Canada, or Pittsburgh. The World Economic Forum reported that plastic bag bans in cities around the country have reduced the amount of plastic bags in circulation by billions of bags per year. Reducing our plastic consumption also reduces our exposure to plastic-related toxins, making these bans a benefit for public health in addition to environmental health. Plastic bans and regulations like those in Islamabad are complex but ultimately push us toward a cleaner, greener future. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE to ban single-use plastic products' import, production, trade from 2026
The UAE will implement a comprehensive ban on the import, production, and trade of single-use plastic products from January 1, 2026, said Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. This comes as part of the phased approach initiated in 2024 with the ban on plastic bags. 'This builds upon the phased approach initiated in 2024 with the ban on plastic bags. This decisive action underscores our resolve and commitment to environmental stewardship, driving us towards a future where waste and pollution are designed out of our systems,' Dr Amna said on the occasion of World Environment Day — which is marked on June 5. She called on all community members in the UAE to play their role in eliminating unnecessary plastic. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'Each of us, as responsible members of our community, can play a leading role in realising our nation's vision by joining the mission to eliminate unnecessary plastic from our daily lives. Let us become active agents of change, leading a powerful movement towards thriving communities, and a vibrant, resilient environment. Let us protect the land and the sea that are so integral to our lives, for ourselves, our loved ones, and for generations to come,' the minister said. She reiterated that this year's theme, 'Beat Plastic Pollution', is a call to action for every member of the community. Dubai and other emirates imposed a ban on single-use plastic bags and implemented 25 fils tariff from January 1, 2024. The ban covered stirrers, Styrofoam food containers, table covers, cotton swabs, straws and single-use Styrofoam cups made of plastic. Starting January 1, 2026, single-use plastic cups and lids, single-use plastic cutlery, plastic food containers and plastic plates will be banned. Plastic in lungs, brains, breast milk The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Thursday warned that plastic pollution is contaminating water supplies, food sources, and the air we breathe. 'As plastics break down, they enter the food chain. Microplastics have been detected in human arteries, lungs, brains, and breast milk,' it said. It said global plastic consumption is projected to reach 516 million tonnes this year, and if current consumption patterns continue, it will rise to over 1.2 billion tonnes annually by 2060. 'We are resolutely committed to managing hazardous waste and aggressively reducing plastic waste at every level,' said Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak. She stressed that the UAE optimises resource use in critical sectors such as green infrastructure, transportation, manufacturing, and responsible food production and consumption. 'The policy prioritises reducing plastic waste and promoting innovative solutions for sustainable packaging and recycling.' 13 million deaths The UN body said environmental factors contribute to the deaths of about 13 million people worldwide each year. Almost half of these fatalities are attributed to air pollution. The health and economic costs of unhealthy air pollution currently amount to $2.9 trillion. 'We urge communities to advocate for lasting solutions to combat plastic pollution. Historically, recycling has been a key strategy for mitigating plastic waste. However, only nine per cent of plastics produced globally are recycled. It is estimated that just 21 per cent of plastic today is economically recyclable, meaning the value of recycled materials covers the costs of collection, sorting, and processing,' it added.
The National
6 days ago
- General
- The National
How Abu Dhabi's ban on single-use plastic bags is saving precious sea turtles
Abu Dhabi's mission to eliminate single-use plastic bags is offering a safer passage to sea turtles navigating the emirate's waters. The capital introduced its single-use plastic ban on June 1, 2022, in a major push to safeguard the environment and greatly reduce plastic pollution in the sea. The campaign has generated significant dividends, with an estimated 360 million plastic bags taken out of circulation by the end of 2024. As World Environment Day is observed on Thursday, the impact of the initiative is being felt far and wide – not least by joyous children seeing nature up close off Abu Dhabi's mangrove-lined coast. Tackling environmental scourge A group of children recently watched 20 sea turtles – 10 juveniles and 10 adults, including a rescued loggerhead – slip into the turquoise water off Saadiyat Island. 'These are endangered species,' said Lewis Cocks, curator at The National Aquarium in Abu Dhabi. 'Without anyone rescuing them they would probably perish.' The 10 adult turtles had been rehabilitated at a sanctuary area at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. Mr Cocks and his team retrieved them from the turtle lagoon at 5am on the day of their release. The enclosure is the last stop on the rehabilitation journey for many turtles, where they experience Arabian Gulf water, sunlight and seasonal changes. Most of the juvenile turtles at the aquarium and the sanctuary are being rehabilitated for cold stunning, a condition that effects young turtles adapting to seasonal temperature changes. However, Mr Cocks says the stories of the 10 older turtles being released are linked with World Environment Day and its theme of #BeatPlasticPollution. 'Turtles – they think with their stomach, and they don't really have good eyesight so they will happily eat plastic, thinking its jellyfish,' said Mr Cocks. The event was more than symbolic. As the Abu Dhabi marks the third anniversary of its single-use plastic bag ban, the turtles return to the sea served as a stark reminder of what is at stake – and what is still to be done. Plastic ingestion is a recurring cause of distress in marine life, Mr Cocks explained. 'We see a lot of plastic. We find it inside turtles and washed up on beaches. It shows how widespread the issue is.' The National Aquarium typically releases up to 200 rehabilitated turtles each year, part of wider conservation efforts that aim to not only rescue individual animals, but to educate the public about the threats to ocean life. 'It's about instilling awareness, especially in children,' said Mr Cocks. 'We're all responsible for reducing waste, cleaning up after ourselves, and changing our behaviour.' Beyond the ban While public turtle releases grab headlines, the real work of tackling single-use plastic pollution is happening behind the scenes – and across government departments. Mr Cocks told The National that since measures have been introduced he has noticed reduction in plastic waste. Sheikha Al Mazrouei, executive director of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi's Integrated Environment Policy and Planning Sector, spoke of the importance of winning hearts and minds. 'We launched the Abu Dhabi single-use plastic policy in 2020,' she said. 'It covers both the public and private sectors. The idea is not just to ban, but to change behaviour.' 'We want people to understand: we're not against plastic. Plastic has benefits – its lightweight, durable, it can reduce emissions during transport. But the issues is single-use plastic. These items are used for less than 10 minutes and then discarded. They stay in the environment for hundreds of years.' Beyond the plastic bag ban, the UAE's strategy extends to phasing out single-use styrofoam products – with a full ban on certain items implemented in June 2024, alongside significantly expanding its recycling systems. This includes the 2023 roll-out of more than 170 reverse vending machines across Abu Dhabi, which have collected more than 130 million plastic bottles for recycling systems. Federal regulation will take the effort further in 2026, banning an expanded list of single-use plastics. Culture shift, not crackdown The policy's success is striking not just for its scope, but for its reception. 'We haven't had to issue a single penalty,' said Ms Al Mazrouei. 'People said it would be hard – that businesses would complain, that shoppers would resist. But we took a collaborative approach: workshops, school programmes, social media campaigns. It worked.' Instead of fines, the agency relied on outreach and education, helping companies retrofit production lines and encouraging individuals to adopt reusable habits. 'When I go to the market, I take my own bag,' Ms Al Mazrouei told The National. 'It even helps me buy less.' Still confusion remains. 'People ask, 'if there is a plastic ban, why can I still get a plastic bag at the checkout?'' she said. 'The answer is those are reusable bags. You can use them many times.' Why it matters Globally, the numbers are daunting. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that humans have produced 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic since the 1950s, with 7 billion tonnes now waste. By 2060, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts that plastic waste will nearly triple to one billion tonnes annually if current trends continue. 'Plastic pollution is one of the gravest environmental threats facing Earth,' said Elisa Tonda, the environment programme's chief of resources and markets. 'But it's a problem we can solve.' This year's World Environment Day is focused on preventing plastic waste from entering the environment – through bans, redesign and better waste systems. In the UAE, the urgency is more than theoretical. 'We eat seafood … That plastic enters our food chain, and it stays in our bodies. It's toxic. This isn't just about the environment – it's about public health,' said Ms Al Mazrouei. Looking ahead As the campaign matures, technology is becoming part of the solution. Abu Dhabi is working with the private sector to integrate artificial intelligence into its circular economy systems that encourage healthier, more sustainable habits. 'We want people to live eco-friendly but also healthy and convenient lifestyles,' Ms Al Mazrouei said. 'The environment shouldn't be seen as a sacrifice. With the right solutions, it can be a benefit.' For Mr Cocks, each turtle release is a small reminder of what the future might look like. 'They're indicators,' he said. 'If we protect their world, we're protecting our own.'
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Bali bans small plastic bottles to tackle waste crisis and microplastics: ‘urgent matter'
A sweeping new ban on small plastic water bottles in Bali has triggered backlash from Indonesia 's beverage and plastics industries, even as environmental advocates hail it as a bold step toward tackling the island's growing waste crisis and microplastic contamination. Governor I Wayan Koster, who launched the Bali Clean Waste Movement last month, has framed the initiative as part of a broader campaign to make the island of 4.3 million people waste-free by 2027. The policy builds on a 2018 gubernatorial decree that banned plastic bags in supermarkets and restaurants – a move since adopted by cities like Jakarta. The new regulation, the first of its kind in Indonesia, which took effect in April, prohibits the production, distribution and sale of single-use plastic water bottles smaller than one litre. It also mandates waste segregation at the source across government offices, private businesses, markets, schools and places of worship. Speaking to reporters on April 6, Koster said that beverage producers should use glass bottles instead of plastic for their products. Bali Governor I Wayan Koster launched the Bali Clean Waste Movement last month. Photo: Handout He warned that villages failing to comply risk losing financial help and incentives, while errant businesses could face permit revocations and be publicly labelled 'not environmentally friendly' on the provincial government's social media channels.
