Abu Dhabi launches competition to encourage reduction of single-use products – News

The government entity that reduces the most waste by the end of March 2023 will win the challenge

The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) on Monday launched the “Mission Zero Government Challenge” for Abu Dhabi government entities to encourage the reduction of single-use products.

The organizations will report their results on the amount of waste they generate and the percentage reduction by the end of March 2023, and the entity that records the greatest reduction in waste will be recognized.

As part of EAD’s single-use plastic policy launched in March 2020, the challenge aims to encourage government organizations to move away from single-use products. In June 2022, the ban on single-use plastic bags comes into effect and EAD has published a guide for government organizations titled: “No more single-use products: A guide for governments in Abu Dhabi”.

The agency prepared the guide in Arabic and English to provide information on the policy to government and private institutions and their employees. The guideline’s mission is to declare Abu Dhabi government entities free of single-use plastic and non-plastic materials by limiting use and encouraging a shift to multi-use alternatives that are less harmful to the environment.

Examples of products that will be measured in government entities include: bags, cups and lids, cutlery, plates, blenders and bottles.

“As we continue to [the] Given the momentum of our single-use plastic policy, we decided to launch a competition among government organizations in Abu Dhabi to see which organization can reduce the greatest amount of single-use products.Our long-term goal is that all institutions [the] The Abu Dhabi government environment has become completely free of disposable products. “

He added: “Since 2022, we have shared our guidance with the government and organized a series of workshops for staff, and 3,247 people have attended our sessions to date. We have seen positive response from government entities. Working together, through this challenge we will take greater steps to declare our government free of harmful products that harm our environment.”

EAD has developed an awareness toolkit that includes infographics and animations explaining the guidance in simple steps to support entities in implementing it. It is shared with more than 80 entities.

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