MUSCAT : Starting from January 1, 2021, Oman will ban single-use plastic bags in a bid to combat pollution and to protect its environment.
The moves are being lauded by environmentalists and people alike. Early in March, the government issued a decision to ban the use of single-use plastic shopping bags. “Companies and establishments are prohibited from using single-use plastic bags with the aim to protect the Omani environment’’, said the decision.
In a poll conducted by the Environment Authority in November showed hat about three of five consumers were ready ditch single-use plastic bags, while about 9 percent of consumers have actually switched to reusable and more environment-friendly bags.
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Violators could be fined as much as 2,000, and the penalties are doubled for repeat offenders.
“Oman faces serious environmental challenges related mainly to environmental protection and public health, from the danger of plastic bags, whose effect remains as long-term non-degradable plastic waste, in addition to the difficulty of collecting and recycling them,” EA said in an earlier statement.
