Single-use styrofoam products will be banned in Abu Dhabi from June 1, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development announced on X.
The ban will be applicable to cups, lids, plates, beverage containers, and food receptacles for immediate consumption.
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Exempt items
Items exempt from this ban include:
- Reusable storage boxes
- Coolers
- Items intended for medical use
The initiative to ban single-use Styrofoam is an extension of the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy, and supports the aims of the Year of Sustainability.
The Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy was launched in May 2020. Under the policy, a ban on the sale of single-use plastic bags across all retailers came into effect from June 1, 2022, leading to a 95% drop in the use of these bags.
Other emirates in the UAE have also enforced similar bans on single-use plastic products. In Sharjah, the ban was initiated on January 1, 2024 and the emirate announced on April 22 that the municipality has stopped manufacturing single-use plastic bags.
Dubai also announced a ban on single-use plastic from January 1, 2024, imposing up to a maximum penalty of Dh2,000 fine for violations.
These bans came in the wake of the announcement made by the federal government in January 2023 about the pan-UAE ban on single-use plastic from 2024.