São Paulo – In Oman, an Arab Gulf country, single-use plastic bags will be banned from January next year, national daily Times of Oman reported according to the Arab News. Most consumers have pledged their support for more environment-friendly shopping.
A poll by the Oman’s Environment Authority shows that about three of five consumers were ready to ditch single-use plastic bags, while about 9% of consumers have switched to reusable and more environment-friendly bags. Others meanwhile are seeking more time to adjust.
The decision to ban single-use plastic bags was based on the country’s Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Law. The Environment Authority is preparing to implement the decision that prohibits companies and institutions from making single-use plastic shopping bags. Violators could be fined as much as USD 5,200, 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,” the authority said, adding that it was necessary to develop policies and guidelines for manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the correct transition to reusable bags.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda