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Five Waitrose stores in Abu Dhabi are charging 25 fils for grocery bags as part of a 12-week trial to discourage consumers from using single-use plastic bags. The trial runs from June 16 to September 8.
According to the Ministry of Climate Change, the UAE uses 11 billion plastic bags annually. Waitrose, which already charges for plastic bags across its UK stores, hopes it will help redefine customers’ relationships with avoidable plastics.
Spinneys plans to introduce a charge for plastic bags too. Currently all Spinneys bags are oxo-biodegradable, which take three to six months to decompose fully.