Dubai stores to charge for plastic in 40 days

Starting July 1, retail, textile and electronic stores, restaurants and pharmacies will charge 25 fils on single-use bags at counters. The tariff is also applicable to e-commerce deliveries.

The policy will be evaluated ‘over several stages’ until single-use carrier bags are completely banned within two years, the Executive Council of Dubai announced in February.

The move comes “to limit single-use bags to enhance environmental sustainability,” the Dubai Executive Council previously tweeted. The tariff on single-use bags is currently in effect in over 30 countries, and a partial or complete ban has been implemented in more than 90 countries worldwide.

On Friday, the Dubai Municipality has issued a comprehensive guideline and clarifications regarding the ban on plastic bags.

The tariff will be applied to all single-use bags used to carry goods at the point of purchase according to the following specifications: Each bag is less than 57 micrometers thick; it also includes bags made of plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic and plant-based biodegradable materials

All stores must apply a tariff of 25 fils for each single-use bag, and a different tariff can be placed on sustainable (reusable) alternatives if provided by the store.

The tariff applies to all single-use bags for carrying goods, including paper bags with a thickness of fewer than 57 micrometres, and stores are not obligated to provide free alternatives, as the goal is to push a change in consumer behaviour to preserve the local environment.

The tariff will be applied from July 1, 2022. A complete ban will be implemented within two years.