'Phenomenal reduction' of single-use plastic in Abu Dhabi by 2021

Abu Dhabi will have a draft policy on single-use plastic to substantially reduce its consumption by 2020.

The policy will include an implementation plan and the needed instruments and incentives to be implemented by 2021, Dr. Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) said.

The United Nations has called for global action to beat plastic pollution, saying that 400 million tons of plastics are produced every year, 36 percent of which are intended for single-use.

Al Dhaheri said that people and businesses will get almost one year to get prepared before the measures are implemented and single-use items with clear alternatives are replaced with sustainable reusable products, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

"Items like bags, bottles and cutlery will be targeted by the policy through various measures to reduce their consumption and ensure recovery for recycling," she explained.

She also said that EAD has looked into the studies conducted in the US, Europe and some neighbouring countries about their experiences of eradicating single-use plastic.

The EAD will conduct awareness campaigns for consumers and businesses to make the mission of reducing the consumption of single-use plastic a success.