Ajman was the first emirate in the UAE to ban the use of plastic bags in 2010 by starting a campaign called ?Day without Plastic Bags? that has helped the emirate in reducing the dependence on plastic bags. This initiative is to encourage citizens and residents in the emirate to not use plastic bags that causes environmental damage. The municipality also organize an awareness programme every year to educate the community about the importance of using reusable bags in schools, shopping malls etc. and by distributing brochures also.

I think it?s not tough to start initiatives like this in other emirates as in Ajman which is an ambitious and noble goal to rise the name of the emirate high in the sky as the city free of plastic bags by 2021.It should be followed by other emirates also where there are no limits on the use of plastic bags that is an eyesore. Our main goal should be to encourage citizens and residents of the UAE to not to use the plastic bags that adversely affect the aesthetic view of the city and damage wildlife. It is noticed that users normally throw away the used bags in any place that causes damage to natural habitats and killing animals that mistake them for food.

The initiatives by the team of inspectors of the Department of Environmental Protection efforts are praiseworthy who supervise the markets regularly to ensure compliance of the stores with the decision. Stores get fined for not using Eco-friendly bags as alternatives for plastic bags as huge amount of Dhs 50,000 that prevents them from repeating same mistake and serves as lesson for others.

Disadvantages of using plastic bags are many:

They are non-biodegradable.

They harm the environment by chocking the drains.

Poly bags are made of petrochemicals if burnt, emits harmful gases in the environment that are bad to the health of the planet. 
These likely take about 500-1,000 years to decompose so the plastic bags that are thrown away create a lot of waste in the landfills.

If not properly disposed animals can caught in them and harming them in many ways.

Sometimes accidents on roads are caused due to these bags that fly here and there.

Poly bags could make the soil infertile because they many end up in trees.

When plastic bags aren't properly disposed, they may eventually make their way to bodies of water leaching toxins posing a threat to marine life and human.

Part of community think that some materials of bags are designed for photo degradation and degrade with the direct sunlight can be used but these are also considered a possible Contaminant to plastic recycling operations.

To encourage not to use plastic bags the concerned authorities should reward those supermarkets and shops who remove all their poly bags. It just requires cooperation between shops, consumers and importers, customers should always refuse to take plastic bags even if given choice that is to become a responsible consumer is a must in today?s scenario.  Set an example by following environmental friendly lifestyle. I am sure community and people around us would catch on even if it takes a while.  Practicing and following Eco-friendly practices can definitely solve use of plastic bags problem and we can live in a healthier and greener environment.