Page 26 - Plastics News March 2020

internAtionAL news

Abu Dhabi to ban Single-Use Ottawa set to declare plastics as

Plastic By 2021 toxic substance

bu Dhabi (EAD) in the UAE has announced plans to he federal government intends to designate plastics
Aban single-use plastic bags in the emirate by next Tas toxic substances, a move industry stakeholders
year. The plan involves gradually phasing out the use of say is unduly aggressive and detrimental to the sector’s
single-use plastic bags by 2021, as well as encouraging brand. Listing plastics as toxic under Schedule 1 of
the use of sustainable the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)
alternatives and recycling will provide the government with the authority to
measures. According to regulate and limit certain products. The Liberals
Gulf News, the new policy campaigned during the fall election on a promise to
will be implemented in ban some single-use plastics as early as 2021, as part
collaboration with various of a national strategy to reduce waste and pollution. In
government and private a minority parliament, it is considered more expedient
stakeholders. It will involve for the government to use the existing act than to
removing 16 most common curry multiparty support for new legislation regulating
single-use plastics such as plastics.Environment and Climate Change Canada
plastic cups, lids, cutlery, signalled that the government will, indeed, designate
straws, stirrers and food plastics as toxic. “In order to take concrete regulatory
containers, which account for the largest share of marine action to reduce plastic waste and pollution under CEPA,
waste. Additionally, the scheme will introduce a plastic substances must first be added to Schedule 1,” the
bottle return deposit scheme to remove them from department said.Bob Masterson, the president and CEO
circulation.EAD secretary-general Dr Shaikha Salem Al of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, said
Dhaheri said: “The launch of the single-use plastics policy
reflects our steadfast commitment towards transitioning
to a more sustainable economy that seeks to minimise
waste and protect vital ecosystems in our environment.
“By implementing this new policy, Abu Dhabi will be
joining more than 127 countries around the world that
have already taken measures to ban or limit the use
of disposable plastic materials. “Our policy is aligned
with international standards in order to make Abu Dhabi
a pioneer in reducing the use of avoidable single-use
materials by 2021.” Several local environmental groups
have welcomed the move.Every year, the UAE uses around
11 billion plastic bags, according to a report presented he is disappointed the government is poised to go that
route. Over the past several months, the association,
in the World Government Summit in February last year. whose members include petrochemical companies that
The figure equates to 1,184 plastic bags per person per produce plastics, has been urging federal officials to
year, significantly higher than the global average of 307. instead amend CEPA’s pollution-prevention provisions or
Recently, the senate of the US state of New Jersey passed a introduce standalone legislation.“We’re uncomfortable
bill banning the use of single-use plastic bags. Reacting to with the notion that products that are used every
the new policy, Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of Emirates day to keep food safe and sanitary, are going to be
Environmental Group said “The move to phase out declared toxic,” he said. “We understand that it’s just
disposable plastic bags starting with a stringent financial a designation for rulemaking, but it will be used as a
levy on its use and a comprehensive bottle return scheme reason by some campaigners to encourage people to
is the right move forward towards reducing our excessive stop using plastics.”
consumption of disposable plastics in the country.”

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