The Environment Authority confirms that it will implement the decision to ban the use of single-use plastic bags, starting from January of next year 2021.
 
An administrative fine of not less than OMR100 and not more than OMR 2,000 for anyone who violates the provisions of this decision, and doubled in the event of repeated violation, without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated in the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Law.

EA said: "Ministerial Decision No. 23/2020 regarding banning the use of single-consumption plastic shopping bags came to limit the use of plastic bags in order to ensure the safety and health of humans, living organisms and wildlife in general."

"According to a research study conducted by the Chemicals Department of the Environment Agency, in which it was stated that plastic bags are made of polyethylene as a polymerization of ethylene, as a gas and as a by-product of oil, gas and coal as a non-dissolving oil suspension, in addition to being a mass incapable of decomposition, it is a harmful substance that may cause some diseases," the authority added.

The plastic that is made within two minutes and uses a period of 20 minutes requires 400 years to decompose in nature and reach the landfill of which only about 8 per cent , and the rest is distributed in the air, trees, beaches and other open places, and ends up in the seas to kill marine creatures, in addition to throwing it under the sun creates very harmful gases, so the only way to get rid of it is to burn it, and this further exacerbates air and water pollution and thus contamination of crops and disease.
 

SOURCE: timesofoman