Policy framework
National Action Plan
Name:
National Integrated Waste Management Strategy
Brief description:
The national integrated waste management strategy has been prepared to reflect the commitment of all stakeholders in the UAE to protect the environment from the effects of waste management activities, improve waste services according to the waste management hierarchy and promote the circular economy. The projects and programs of the strategy that will be carried out by the federal and local government, in addition to the private sector aim to enhance the circular economy by improving the mechanism of waste disposal, intensifying recycling efforts, adopting the concept of extended producer responsibility, and spreading awareness in the Emirati society.
The strategy is designed with strategic directions that represent the main priorities of waste management in the UAE to cover the following:
- Promoting sustainable production and consumption programs in avoiding waste generation.
- Developing sorting, reusing, recycling and treating waste activities by adopting a circular economy approach.
- Ensure implementing proper healthy engineered disposal systems applications in landfills.
- Building research, development and innovation capabilities and adopting advanced technologies in integrated waste management.
Legal framework
Name:
- Federal law No.12 for the year 2018 on the integrated waste management.
- Cabinet Decision No. 39 for the year 2021 regarding the executive regulations of Federal law No. 12 for the year 2018 on the integrated waste management.
Brief description:
The Federal law No.12 for the year 2018 and its executive regulation seek to regulate the waste management process and standardize the mechanisms and methods of proper waste disposal in line with best practices with the aim of protecting the environment and reducing risks to human health.
The above legislations specified the responsibility of the waste producers and suppliers to the principle of extended producer responsibility and promoted the principle of waste sorting in society by standardizing the colors of containers in the UAE.
The legislations also set standards for the operation of sewage treatment facilities, the proper management of hazardous waste, the technical requirements and environmental control for landfills.
In addition, the regulations prohibit and put in place fines for establishments and individuals for littering, burying, incinerating or disposing of waste in open areas, roads, waterways, public parks and any other areas not designated for this purpose.
Measures
|
Measures |
Achievements |
|
Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation |
|
| Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws) | |
|
Names of actions: Targeted products: Brief description: |
Comments: The program is yet to be implemented on the national level, however two emirates started the implementation in mid of 2022. |
| Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design | |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: |
Comments: The program is yet to be implemented on the national level |
|
Measures |
Achievements |
|
Environmentally sound waste management |
|
| Enforcement of proper waste management system | |
Names of actions:
Brief description: |
We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years |
| Others | |
| Implementation of the extended producer responsibility principle: Establishing a mechanism to implement the principle of extended responsibility by which the supplier / producer is responsible for creating the added value from reuse and recycling program, and bearing legal, regulatory and financial responsibility to reduce environmental impacts during the full life cycle of the products. The focus will be on priority waste such as electronic waste, battery waste and packaging waste. |
|
|
Measures |
Achievements |
|
Promotion of innovative solutions |
|
| Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed-loop recycling) | |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: |
Comments: The program is yet to be implemented on the national level |
| Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution | |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: |
Comments: The program is yet to be implemented on the national level |
|
Measures |
Achievements |
|
Education and awareness raising |
|
| Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues | |
| Launching education and awareness programs focusing on the principles of reducing the waste generation, reusing and recycling, sorting waste from the source. The Programs and workshops focus on municipal solid waste in general, e-waste, food waste, plastic waste and single-use items and the principle of extended responsibility. | We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years |
Challenges
- Recycling system improvement
- Data collection related to marine plastic litter
- Lack of awareness among citizens, business, local governments
Best practices
National level
- Launching the Circle Coalition, a federal public-private partnership established to develop a circular economy model to combat plastic and packaging waste pollution.
Local level
- The Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have made progress in the implementation of banning single use items by regulating and introducing policies in 2022.
- The Emirate of Dubai, introduced a policy to regulate the use of single use items including plastic.
- Some of the emirates launched the Emirates mines project to collect waste in neighborhoods and residential areas, an initiative that provides the public with the possibility of sorting waste from the source and proper disposal of it.