The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi (EAD) has noted a significant drop in the use of single-use plastic since the ban on plastic bags.
Many have now switched to reusable and more sustainable alternatives.
Retail stores, since the beginning of the ban, have seen a drop in the use of single-use plastic shopping bags by over 90%, which amounts to a daily reduction of half a million bags.
The present amount of bags reduced is over 87 million bags.
Stores currently charge a fee for each alternative plastic bag bought.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD said, "The Single-Use Plastic Policy in Abu Dhabi addresses the issue of plastic pollutants that leak into the environment and cause damage. We are exploring the use of sustainable solutions to solve this challenge in a manner that fully supports the Government’s long-term vision for a greener future. By reducing the consumption of single-use plastics, the policy will also reduce emissions in line with the UAE's Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, the achievement of the policy’s objectives will also help the waste sector divert 80 per cent of municipal solid waste in Abu Dhabi away from landfills."