The UAE on Tuesday announced a total ban on single-use plastic shopping bags, effective from January 1, 2024, an initiative aimed at reducing pollution.

The law would prohibit the import, production and circulation of such bags from January 1, 2024, according to the report on the state-run WAM news agency.

A similar ban would apply to plastic cups, plates and cutlery from January 1, 2026.

'Dubai Can' Cuts Single-Use Plastic Bottle Usage by 3.5 Million

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, imposed a ban on single-use plastics in June, and the futuristic city of Dubai began charging around 6 cents for such bags in July.

Plastic bags are one of the most worst form of waste which polluting streets and waterways. The impacts of this plastic waste on the environment and our health are global and can be drastic.

The announcement is being seen as a very crucial step towards checking pollution. Plastic takes decades to degrade and microscopic particles have been found inside the bodies of fish, birds and other animals.

EAD Marks Major Progress Towards Single-Use Plastic Free Abu Dhabi