Plastic bags for garbage collection exempted from ban

The Environment Authority has issued a clarification on alternatives for single-use plastic bags that are banned in the Sultanate from January 1.

A statement issued online said: “Based on the inquiries received by the Environment Authority regarding specifications and alternatives for single-use bags that are covered by the ban according to Resolution 23/2020, the Authority wishes to clarify the following:

1. The bags covered by the ban are lightweight single-consumption plastic shopping bags and all kinds of decomposing  bags, which are capable of disintegrating and disintegrating quickly in nature, but their chemical properties remain and as a result the harm is greater on the environment.
2. The alternatives that can be used are: paper and carton bags, canvas bags, cotton bags and non-woven bags that are reused and available in the markets and shops.
3. Bags currently exempted from the ban in the first phase are: plastic bags intended for waste collection, bags for planting agricultural seedlings, bags for vegetables and fruits available in commercial centers, bags for meat and fish available in commercial centers, laundry bags and bread packaging bags.

The authority confirms that this exception is temporary and further details will be published on it. We also invite everyone to search for suitable alternatives such as paper and cardboard bags and other containers for meat and fish by the time this exception ends.

As part of protecting the environment, Oman imposed a nationwide ban on single-use plastics from January 1. Violators could be fined as much as OMR 2,000, and the penalties are doubled for repeat offenders.