The Environment Authority has launched the fifth phase of Decision No. 8/2024 banning the use of plastic shopping bags, applied according to the approved gradual plan, as part of continuing efforts to reduce plastic pollution, promote sustainable consumption practices and conserve natural resources and biodiversity in Oman.

What the Decision Aims to Do

The decision seeks to address the challenges created by excessive consumption of plastic shopping bags in commercial activity across both the government and private sectors. Its purpose is to ensure a gradual and well-managed transition to environmentally friendly alternatives and to reduce products that do not meet environmental standards — consistent with the move toward a sustainable economy and development model supporting Oman Vision 2040.

Which Businesses Are Covered

Eng Abeer bint Omar Al Qasimi, a chemistry specialist in the Chemicals and Waste Management Department at the Environment Authority, said the Authority would begin implementing the fifth phase from 1 July 2026.

This phase extends the ban to furniture shops, khanjar, gold and silver shops, car care centres and car dealerships — completing the earlier phases delivered under a gradual plan designed to reduce reliance on plastic bags and encourage environmentally friendly alternatives, helping to limit the negative environmental effects of plastic waste on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

A Phased National Approach

Rolling the ban out sector by sector has allowed retailers time to adjust supply chains and source alternatives, while giving the Authority the opportunity to monitor compliance and assess the availability of substitutes at each stage.

The approach reflects a wider pattern in Omani environmental regulation: setting a clear long-term requirement, then phasing enforcement so that businesses and consumers can adapt without disruption to commercial activity.

Part of a Broader Plastics Agenda

The bag ban sits alongside national research into monitoring and managing plastic waste in land and marine environments, and complements Oman’s participation in international efforts to curb plastic pollution.

Waste management and the circular economy are central themes at Oman Climate Week 2026, which includes a dedicated Sustainable Waste Management conference track. The event takes place 14–16 September at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre in Muscat.

Source: Oman Daily (Al Omaniya News Agency)
Original Article: https://www.omandaily.om/عمان-اليوم/na/هيئة-البيئة-تدشن-المرحلة-الخامسة-من-تطبيق-قرار-حظر-استخدام-الأكياس-البلاستيكية