The ban will come into force in January 2024
Penalties amounting to a fine for violators of the "plastic bag ban" in Sharjah
A list of fees and fines will be issued for those who do not implement the decision to ban the use of plastic bags.
From the source
Sulaiman Al-Zaabi: “The mandatory delay in implementing the decision to ban plastic bags aims to create a culture among customers.”
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The head of the Sharjah Municipalities Affairs Department, Dr. Sulaiman Sarhan Al Zaabi, stated that the department is currently working, in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, to study information on feedback on the decision to replace single-use plastic bags with environmentally friendly multi-use bags, starting from January 1, 2024. , as it is expected to be completed during the month of December, revealing that whoever trades it after this date will be violated and penalties will be issued in this regard.
Al Zaabi told «Emirates Today» that a list of fees and fines will be issued for those who do not implement the decisions of the Executive Council regarding the ban on the use of plastic bags, stressing that the penalties for violations will be gradual, as they begin with a written attention, then a written warning, and in the event of repetition, financial fines will be applied.
He explained that the Executive Council of the emirate met and decided to give a deadline to implement this decision until the end of 2023, provided that plastic is strictly prohibited in 2024, with the exception of environmentally friendly ones, indicating that the Department of Municipal Affairs is currently coordinating with Bee’ah Company and the Department of Economic Development in the Sharjah government, to find bags. Environmentally friendly, either made of rapidly decomposing environmentally friendly plastic, paper, cardboard, or jute, which is the best solution, because it is the cleanest and most capable of carrying heavy objects.
Regarding the current sale of plastic bags at 25 fils, Al Zaabi said: “This money will go to the shopping centers themselves, as the government does not benefit from applying their value, and all its income is for the owners of groceries.” Pointing out that the department is exploring municipal estimates during the next two months, and knowing the position of implementing the decision, with Providing facilities for shopping centers, despite the implementation of the decision starting from last October.
With regard to the size of the damage caused by plastic bags, he indicated that it is measured by the material that makes up the bag itself.
Pointing out that environmentally friendly bags are somewhat expensive, while plastic bags are low in cost and price, revealing that the fish and vegetable markets have not yet implemented the ban on plastic bags, but the department is following this closely, and is interested in conducting statistics and organizing awareness-raising processes, provided that the information study is formulated. decision this month.
He said that the department does not wish to apply any fines or violations at the present time, but rather adopts the principle of gradation, starting with awareness and educating people, until the matter comes from within them. In bags - which will face the problem of marketing bags - to go towards manufacturing environmentally friendly bags, whether from jute, coarse papers or cloth, stressing at the same time that delaying the mandatory implementation of the decision until early 2024 aims to create a culture among customers, before they are legally forced to implement that.
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