Plastic bags in Oman could soon give way to biodegradable bags as the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs is ready to issue a ministerial decree as part of a move to protect the environment. The ministry aims to reduce the use of plastic bags, thus cutting down on their negative impact on the environment.

 

The move follows a meeting of the national team tasked with studying the effects of plastic bags on the environment in Oman.

 

This team consists of a number of government agencies, namely the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources and Oman Holding Company for Environmental Services.

 

The team is also studying the effect of the use of plastic bags on the environment and ways to reduce it as well as finding appropriate solutions that can act as an alternative.

 

The team is also currently studying the GCC standards as part of its preparations to draft Omani standards for plastic bags and also evolve an awareness programme to educate various sections of the society regarding the menace that the plastic bags pose.